Blocked heart arteries can develop slowly over many years, sometimes without causing clear symptoms at first.
The condition is called coronary artery disease, and it happens when the arteries that carry blood to the heart become narrowed by fatty deposits.
These deposits, often called plaque, contain cholesterol and other substances. Inflammation can also play a role, and over time the artery may become so narrow that the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood.
Coronary artery disease is one of the main causes of heart attacks. A heart attack can happen when a plaque breaks open and a blood clot suddenly blocks blood flow, so recognizing possible warning signs can be important.
One of the best-known symptoms is chest discomfort, often called angina. It may feel like pressure, squeezing, heaviness, tightness, or pain in the chest, and the feeling can sometimes spread to the arm, shoulder, neck, jaw, or back.
Angina often appears when the heart has to work harder, such as during exercise, emotional stress, or other physical effort. The discomfort may improve with rest, but new or worsening chest pain should not simply be ignored.
Shortness of breath can also be a warning sign. If the heart is struggling to receive or pump enough oxygen-rich blood, a person may become unusually breathless while walking, climbing stairs, doing household tasks, or sometimes even while resting.
Another possible sign is unusual tiredness. A person may notice that activities they previously managed easily suddenly leave them exhausted, and fatigue can sometimes appear before more obvious heart symptoms.
Women may experience less typical symptoms of heart disease or a heart attack. These can include unusual fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, or discomfort in the back, neck, jaw, or upper abdomen rather than dramatic chest pain.
Some people can also have nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness, or a feeling that the heart is racing or beating irregularly. However, these symptoms have many possible causes and do not automatically mean that an artery is blocked.
Heart disease can occasionally cause few or no noticeable warning signs until a serious event occurs. People with diabetes may be more likely to experience less obvious symptoms because diabetes can damage nerves that normally carry pain signals.
Getting medical help quickly when a heart attack is suspected can limit damage to the heart and improve the chance of survival. Research published in the American Journal of Cardiology and many other studies has highlighted the importance of early recognition and timely treatment of heart attack symptoms.
Reducing the chance of coronary artery disease is also important. Major risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, excess body weight, physical inactivity, older age, and a family history of heart disease.
Regular physical activity, avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and other minimally processed foods can support heart health. Doctors may also recommend medicines to control cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, or other risks when needed.
Symptoms alone cannot tell whether a heart artery is blocked, and doctors may use blood tests, an electrocardiogram, imaging, or other tests to find the cause. Anyone with new, severe, persistent, or worsening chest pressure or pain, especially with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw, should seek emergency medical care.
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