A silent heart attack means that the patient either does not feel any specific symptoms of the attack or simply does not recognize the symptoms as signs of a heart attack. People living with diabetes are more likely to have a silent heart attack than those without diabetes. Further, women are more likely to develop a silent heart attack than men. Otherwise, the risk factors for a silent heart attack are similar to those for a heart attack with symptoms including obesity, smoking, family history, age, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.