Heart Disease Health Center

Symptoms of coronary artery disease

The most common symptoms of coronary artery disease are:

• Chest pain or discomfort, also called angina.
• Shortness of breath when exercising or during another vigorous activity.

Other symptoms include:

• A fast heartbeat.
• Weakness, dizziness, and feeling sick to your stomach (nausea).
• Increased sweating.

Symptoms of heart attack

For men and women, the most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to have other symptoms like shortness of breath, nausea, and back or jaw pain.

Women are also more likely than men to delay seeking help for a possible heart attack. Women delay for many reasons, like not being sure it is a heart attack, or not wanting to bother others. But it is better to be safe than sorry. If you have symptoms of a possible heart attack that last for 5 minutes, call 911 right away.

For more information about prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease in women, see the topic Women and Coronary Artery Disease.

Unfortunately, sometimes a heart attack is the first sign of coronary artery disease.

Some people who have coronary artery disease and insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle (ischemia) do not have any symptoms. This is called "silent ischemia." In rare instances, you can even have a "silent heart attack," a heart attack without symptoms.

Angina (chest pain or discomfort)

Chest pain or discomfort, also called angina, is the most common symptom of coronary artery disease. Angina may have a distinct pattern. Angina can be described as:

• A feeling of pressure, heaviness, weight, tightness, squeezing, discomfort, burning, or dull aching in the chest. People often put their fist to their chest when describing the pain.
• Hard to pinpoint (you can't point to the exact location of the pain). Pressing on the chest wall does not cause the pain.

The chest pain of angina usually begins at a low level, then increases over several minutes to a peak. Angina that starts with an activity usually will decrease when the activity is stopped. Chest pain that begins suddenly or lasts only a few seconds is less likely to be angina.

Angina usually begins in the chest, but it can also start in or spread to different areas of the body, such as:

• Down the left arm (most common site).
• To the left shoulder.
• To the neck or lower jaw.
• To the mid-back.
• Down the right arm.