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Some people have severe symptoms of coronary heart disease. Others have no symptoms at all. If you have “silent” coronary heart disease, you may not have any symptoms until you have a heart attack or other complication.
An acute coronary event, such as a heart attack, may cause the following symptoms:
Women are somewhat less likely than men to experience chest pain. Instead, they are more likely to experience:
Women are also more likely than men to have no symptoms of coronary heart disease.
Chronic (long-term) coronary heart disease can cause symptoms such as the following:
The symptoms may get worse as the buildup of plaque continues to narrow the coronary arteries. Chest pain or discomfort that does not go away or happens more often or 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 doctor.
Coronary heart disease can cause serious complications, including the following:
Complications of coronary heart disease can be life-threatening and may lead to disability.