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Have you ever heard of a “silent heart attack?” What about a heart attack misdiagnosed as just heartburn or even anxiety? Heart attacks are one of the most commonly misdiagnosed health issues in America, often even with no diagnosis, at all.

The problem stems from a number of various factors, including most Americans not knowing the true symptoms of a heart attack, the possibility that you could have a completely painless heart attack and a variety of issues plaguing the American healthcare system. No matter what reality we live in, however, it’s important that the people of New York understand they have options should their medical provider fail to properly diagnose and treat medical events as serious as a heart attack.

What is a “Silent Heart Attack?”

Most people picture someone bending or falling over clutching their chest in pain when they think about heart attacks. Unfortunately, the signs aren’t always so obvious. In some cases, there are very few signs or even no signs, at all. These are known as “silent heart attacks.” Unlike the stereotypical heart attack, a silent heart attack may produce no noticeable symptoms or only mild ones that are easily mistaken for less serious conditions.

For example, you might feel a bit of discomfort or a slight pressure in your chest, which you could easily attribute to heartburn from a spicy meal or a muscle strain from lifting something heavy. Other subtle signs might include fatigue, shortness of breath, or even mild indigestion. Because these symptoms are so unremarkable, many people don’t realize they’ve experienced a heart attack until much later, often during a routine medical check-up or when they suffer another cardiac event. This lack of awareness can lead to significant health risks, as untreated heart attacks can cause severe and lasting damage to the heart.

Why Are Heart Attacks So Often Misdiagnosed?

Heart attacks are frequently misdiagnosed for several reasons. As noted above, heart attacks don’t always present severe symptoms immediately, leading many doctors to overlook the possibility of a severe cardiac event. Many symptoms are minor and mirror more benign issues like heartburn, muscle strain, or anxiety.

Additionally, doctors often see patients who are actually healthy and may overlook the necessary screening and care in some cases because of an assumption that some patients are overthinking benign symptoms. This lack of diligence can result in missed or incorrect diagnoses. Doctors know that people often have anxiety about significant health issues, especially those related to the heart.

Getting to the Heart of Medical Malpractice

No matter what the reason for misdiagnosis is, your health and financial circumstances may be severely impacted. It’s important to have an experienced New York heart attack misdiagnosis and malpractice attorney by your side. At Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C., we take the time to thoroughly review every client’s circumstances to determine the best course of action to help you recover financially while you focus on recovering physically. If you’ve been the victim of misdiagnosis of an issue as serious as a heart attack, contact our law firm in New York right away. We have helped thousands of injured clients just like you.