Coronary Heart Disease Symptoms

---

Sometimes coronary heart disease is "silent," meaning you may not have any symptoms until you have a heart attack or other complication. This can make coronary heart disease hard to diagnose. It is also why preventing heart disease is so important.

Coronary heart disease often develops over many years. As plaque builds up and narrows the coronary arteries , you're more likely to have symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or neck pain when you exert yourself. Symptoms often go away with rest and return when you are active or under stress. Symptoms may get worse as plaque keeps building up.

Chest pain or discomfort that does not go away or occurs while you are resting might be a sign of a heart attack. All chest pain should be checked by a healthcare provider.

A heart attack may cause the following symptoms:

• Angina, or chest pain caused by the heart, can feel like pressure, squeezing, tightness, or burning. The chest pain is sometimes related to physical activity. The pain or discomfort can also spread to your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back.
• Cold sweats
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Nausea or a feeling of indigestion
• Neck pain
• Shortness of breath, especially with activity
• Weakness

Women are somewhat less likely than men to experience chest pain with a heart attack. Instead, they are more likely to experience:

• Dizziness
• Extreme tiredness
• Nausea
• Pressure or tightness in the chest
• Stomach pain

FACT SHEET

Learn What a Heart Attack Feels Like

It's important to learn the warning signs of a heart attack and what to do if you are experiencing symptoms.

View the fact sheet