What is a silent myocardial infarction?

A silent myocardial infarction is also known as a silent heart attack. It produces no symptoms, or only produce mild symptoms that are so unremarkable that people mistake them for something else, like heartburn or a chest muscle strain. People often don’t learn that they had a heart attack until they have an electrocardiogram (ECG), a stress test or an echocardiogram and the doctor notices signs consistent with heart damage. As in traditional symptomatic heart attacks, a silent heart attack involves a blockage of blood flow to the heart. This injures and scars part of the heart muscle, leaving behind telltale signs.