Coronary Heart Disease Symptoms
Sometimes coronary heart disease is “silent,” meaning you may not have any symptoms until you experience a heart attack or other complication. This can make coronary heart disease hard to diagnose before a problem occurs. And it is also why preventing heart disease is so important.
Symptoms of a heart attack
A heart attack may cause the following symptoms:
- Angina,or chest pain caused by the heart, can feel like pressure, squeezing, tightness, or burning. The chest pain is sometimes related to physical activity. The pain or discomfort can also spread to your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back.
- Cold sweats
- Dizziness
- Light-headedness
- Nausea or a feeling of indigestion
- Neck pain
- Shortness of breath, especially with activity
- Weakness
Women are less likely than men to experience chest pain with a heart attack. Instead, they are more likely to experience:
- Dizziness
- Extreme tiredness
- Nausea
- Pressure or tightness in the chest
- Stomach pain
You may also have some symptoms of a sudden heart problem, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or neck pain, that go away with rest and come back with activity. These symptoms may get worse as the buildup of continues to narrow the coronary arteries. Chest pain or discomfort that does not go away or occurs while you are resting might be a sign of a heart attack.
If you do not know whether your chest pain is angina or a heart attack, call 9-1-1 right away. All chest pain should be checked by a healthcare provider.
Learn What a Heart Attack Feels Like A heart attack often causes cardiogenic shock. It’s important to learn the warning signs of a heart attack and what to do if you are experiencing symptoms.