Blocked arteries in the heart, known as coronary artery disease, happen when the main blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to the heart become damaged or clogged.
This usually happens because of cholesterol buildup, called plaque, and inflammation inside the arteries. Catching the signs early is very important because these blockages can cause serious problems like heart attacks.
Coronary artery disease doesn’t happen overnight. It usually builds up slowly over many years without causing obvious problems at first. At the beginning, a person may not feel anything wrong.
But as more plaque builds up, it narrows the arteries, making it harder for blood to pass through. If an artery becomes too narrow or completely blocked, it can lead to a heart attack. The name for this slow buildup and hardening of plaque is atherosclerosis.
One of the most common signs that arteries might be blocked is chest pain, often called angina. People often describe it as a feeling of pressure, squeezing, or fullness in the center of the chest. Sometimes the pain can also spread to the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back.
Angina usually happens during physical activity or emotional stress and often goes away after a few minutes. Doctors stress that any new chest pain, or chest pain that gets worse suddenly, should be checked by a healthcare professional right away.
Another warning sign is shortness of breath. If the heart isn’t able to pump enough blood because of clogged arteries, a person may feel out of breath. This can happen when doing activities or even when lying down.
People may also feel very tired along with it. Research has shown that shortness of breath often becomes noticeable during exercise, when the heart needs to work harder.
Some people with blocked arteries also experience heart palpitations. They might feel like their heart is fluttering, beating very fast, or pounding hard. This happens because the heart is struggling to move blood through narrowed arteries.
Other symptoms can include nausea, indigestion, heartburn, or stomach pain. These signs are more common in women than in men during a heart attack. Sometimes people mistake these symptoms for other problems like the flu, a stomach ulcer, or acid reflux, which can delay getting the right help.
Unusual tiredness is another warning sign. It can appear suddenly and feel overwhelming, or it can show up during activities that never caused tiredness before. Studies have shown that extreme fatigue can happen weeks before a heart attack, especially in women.
Breaking out in a cold sweat without a clear reason is another symptom that could mean a heart attack is happening. This usually happens together with other signs like chest pain or shortness of breath.
If any of these signs appear, it’s important to seek medical help right away. Doctors can use tests like stress tests, echocardiograms, or coronary angiograms to find out how serious the blockage is and decide what treatment is needed.
Treatments can range from making lifestyle changes to taking medications. In more serious cases, procedures like angioplasty or surgery might be necessary to restore proper blood flow to the heart.
The good news is that coronary artery disease can often be managed and even prevented. Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking, and going for regular health check-ups can make a big difference. Paying attention to early warning signs and getting help quickly can save lives and lead to better heart health in the long run.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that vitamin K helps cut heart disease risk by a third, and a year of exercise reversed worrisome heart failure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about supplements that could help prevent heart disease, stroke, and results showing this food ingredient may strongly increase heart disease death risk.
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