Coronary Heart Disease - Symptoms

Coronary heart disease (CHD), often called coronary artery disease (CAD), seems to have been nearly unknown as recently as the early 1800’s. Amazingly, it has rapidly become an overwhelming concern, affecting nearly 14 million men and women in the United States alone.

Coronary heart disease develops when a fatty material begins to accumulate along the linings of the arteries leading to the heart. This build-up is further affected by calcium, causing irritation. Scar tissue develops, and the arteries narrow, reducing blood flow - and oxygen - to the heart.

Unusual Symptom of Coronary Heart Disease

Some symptoms of coronary heart disease are sudden and dramatic. Others are silent and may go un-observed for months or years.

Cardiac Arrest: The most dramatic and sudden symptom may be an abrupt, unexpected cardiac arrest. The victim may have had no previous knowledge that coronary heart disease was present.

Cardiac arrest as the first symptom is not common. Most people have some symptom or type of discomfort that alerts the physician before coronary heart disease progresses to this point. Even when cardiac arrest is the first symptom of actual coronary heart disease, the person often has had previous heart attacks.

Common Symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease

More normally, people are first alerted to coronary heart disease by symptoms that occur during increased activity or exercise that causes the heart to increase its demand for oxygen. You may be playing tennis. You may be walking rapidly to get somewhere on time. When the narrowed, or even blocked, arteries cannot meet the oxygen need, symptoms manifest themselves.

You may have one or more of these 7 coronary heart disease symptoms. It is unusual for one person to have all of them. Some may be symptoms of a medical concern other than coronary heart disease, so check with your doctor.

1. Chest pain: If you have chest pain when you put forth more energy in some activity such as walking faster or carrying something heavy, it may be a sign of coronary heart disease. The chest pain may be relieved by resting. This chest pain is called “angina pectoris”.

2. Pain Other Than Chest: Sometimes, coronary heart disease will cause pain other than chest pain. You may experience pain in your arm, back, or jaw. The pain may be mostly on the left side, and felt during exercise or when resting.

3. Breath Shortness: A second coronary heart disease symptom is breath shortness. You are walking up a flight of stairs, or up a hill, and find it difficult to get your breath. This may or may not be coronary heart disease. You should ask a physician.

4. Dizziness: Some people with coronary heart disease experience light-headedness or dizziness. They may faint.

5. Weakness: Since the heart does not get enough oxygen with coronary heart disease, you may feel weakness for no apparent reason.

6. Palpitations: In some people, a symptom of coronary heart disease is a feeling that the heart is beating much faster - or much stronger - than usual. It is working to get oxygen.

7. Irregular heartbeat: Coronary heart disease may also signal its presence through a change in the heartbeat. You may feel as though the heart is skipping a beat now and then. It may seem to flutter, thump, or race. Any irregular heartbeat should be reported immediately.

Silent Symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease

Finally, you should be aware that not all symptoms of coronary heart disease are obvious. One, called “silent ischemia”, shows no symptoms. A routine electrocardiogram (ECG) and other tests may show evidence that the heart is not getting enough blood, and arteries may be as much as 50% blocked, but the patient has no symptoms of coronary heart disease.

CAUTION: This information is for educational purposes only. Please see your doctor for regular checkups, and if you exhibit any of the symptoms above.