So, what did we learn in Part I? Chapter 1 discussed how the heart is a magnificent biologic pump endowed by nature with built-in redundancy. That’s good news because when a silent heart disease episode strikes, unknown to its victim, in most instances the heart can partially or fully recover. However, because the human heart cannot be replaced—even with today’s advanced medical technology—we must do everything we can to preserve it, to prevent damage, and, if damage does occur, to limit the size of the injury.
In Chapter 2, we discussed how most coronary heart problems are caused by narrowing or complete blockage of the coronary arteries by arteriosclerotic plaque, largely made up of excess cholesterol. Silent heart disease, an especially pernicious form of coronary heart disease because the usual warning signs often don’t exist, affects up to 45 percent of heart disease sufferers. The notion that heart attacks are caused by too much physical exertion has been disproven by research. You’re just as likely to suffer heart damage from silent heart disease when you’re resting as when you are exercising. However, we do know that because of the body’s circadian rhythm, heart events—silent and otherwise—are more likely to occur between 6 a.m. and 12 noon.
As we learned in Chapter 3, there are four types of silent heart disease. One group of patients can have cardiac strain or damage with warning signs like chest pain sometimes and at other times without any warning signs at all. In all cases, the absence of pain doesn’t mean silent heart disease is benign. We don’t know why about half of all those who have heart disease never experience symptoms like chest pain. The good news is that with today’s modern diagnostic technology, virtually all heart disease—silent or otherwise—can be detected and treated.
Finally, in Chapter 4 the various kinds of heart damage caused by silent heart disease were compared. A heart “stunned” by repeated episodes of silent heart disease nevertheless can recover in some instances by, in effect, hibernating. Temporary blockage of the heart’s all-important arteries need not result in permanent damage, especially if treatment is delivered quickly. The good news is that today 90 percent of all heart attack victims survive. Contrast that with sudden cardiac arrest, which kills 90 percent of its victims. It’s the leading cause of death for those who suffer from heart disease and often the final result of silent heart disease damage accumulating over years. Still, sudden cardiac death can be prevented when the symptoms are recognized and treatment is provided quickly.
Now, on to Part II, where we’ll explore the various risk factors associated with silent heart disease.