Chest Pain (Angina)
The most common symptom of coronary artery disease is chest pain, also known as angina. Angina can be described as a discomfort, heaviness, pressure, aching, burning, fullness, squeezing, or painful feeling due to coronary heart disease. Angina is usually felt in your chest, but may also be felt in your shoulders, arms, neck, throat, jaw, or back, and it may even feel like indigestion. Some people say that chest pain is hard to describe or that they can't tell exactly where the pain is coming from.
What causes chest pain (angina)?
Chest pain is caused when blood flow to an area of your heart is decreased. As a result, oxygen and vital nutrients to your heart muscle cells is reduced and your heart muscle must use alternative, less efficient forms of “fuel” so that it can continue to pump blood to the body. The result is the buildup of lactic acid heart, which causes the pain you feel. There are different triggers for chest pain, depending on the type of angina you have.
What are the symptoms of chest pain (angina)?
Symptoms such as nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), fatigue (tiredness), shortness of breath, sweating, light-headedness, or weakness also may occur. Women are more likely to feel discomfort in their back, shoulders, and abdomen. Symptoms vary based on the type of angina, which include stable angina, unstable angina and variant angina.