Symptoms and Complications
Some people with CAD might have no symptoms until the disease is severe enough to cause chest pains, or angina pectoris (angina comes from the Greek word for "strangling").
Stable angina is often the first sign that a person has CAD. Chest pain or discomfort occurs with activity and is relieved by rest. With unstable angina, symptoms become less predictable and can occur when you are at rest. This indicates rapid progression of CAD and higher risk of a heart attack and requires that you see a doctor immediately.
Some symptoms of angina include:
- tightness or a squeezing sensation across the chest
- burning or pressure beneath the breast bone
- pain or ache radiating to the shoulders, jaw, arms, throat, neck, or upper abdomen
- fatigue
- nausea or vomiting
- sweating
- weakness
- shortness of breath
- lightheadedness
If a plaque lining a blood vessel ruptures, it may completely block an area of the heart from receiving the oxygen-rich blood supply it needs. The starved cells in that area will then die, resulting in a heart attack (or myocardial infarction, MI).
The symptoms of a heart attack are similar to those of angina, but much stronger.
Men will often feel:
- constant pain in the middle of the chest that may radiate to the neck, jaw, left shoulder, or arm
- tightness or squeezing in the chest
- a sensation of "heaviness" or heavy indigestion
- sweating, nausea, and vomiting
- shortness of breath
- anxiety, fear, or denial
In women, the main symptoms can be similar to men but may also include:
- shoulder, neck, or back pain
- feeling a sharp pain on breathing in cold air
- unusual fatigue or weakness
It's very important to get medical help as quickly as possible if you feel you have the symptoms of a heart attack.