Three Symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease is one of the top causes behind heart attacks, and it is the most common type of heart disease. Coronary artery disease occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become clogged, hardened, and/or narrow, causing blockages. Here are three symptoms of coronary artery disease that you should not ignore.

Angina

Angina refers to tightness, heaviness, and pain that can come into the chest. You may feel as though you are having an actual heart attack, but without the pain in the shoulder or arm or any of the other symptoms. Some people mistake angina attacks for panic attacks because the chest pain and tightness is very similar. Angina is the most common symptom of coronary artery disease, and it can happen predictably at certain times of the day or unpredictably depending on stress factors.

Fatigue

If you have coronary artery disease, your blood cannot move as freely throughout your body as it normally would. The extra effort that your body must make to move blood through narrowed or hardened arteries will be apt to leave you feeling fatigued or tired quite frequently. This can be a huge warning sign that something is wrong with your heart.

Immediate Symptoms

If you are having a heart attack caused by coronary artery disease, or if your body is responding as if you were, there are several symptoms that you will notice immediately in the heat of the moment. You may be short of breath, dizzy, weak, have a rapid heartbeat, or have an irregular heart beat. If any of these symptoms occur, you should go to the emergency room immediately.

If you have these or other symptoms of coronary artery disease, contact us today to schedule an appointment for a full examination and discussion of your symptoms and condition.