11 Silent Health Risks Common in South Asian Genetics

9. Silent Heart Attacks and Arrhythmias — What You Need to Know

Some heart attacks and abnormal heart rhythms occur with few or no classic symptoms and therefore get missed until tests show damage. This silent presentation is more dangerous because a delay in care worsens outcomes. If your family has early heart disease, talk to your clinician about screening tools like ECG, ambulatory rhythm monitors, or stress testing in appropriate cases. Knowing your resting pulse and reporting palpitations or fainting helps catch rhythm problems. Reducing risk factors—controlling blood pressure, blood sugar, and lipids—lowers the chance of silent heart injury. For people with palpitations or unexplained chest discomfort, seeking advice promptly is key. If you have relatives with unexplained sudden cardiac events, family screening and genetic evaluation may be appropriate, and your clinician can guide you on the right tests.