According to the Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, coronary heart disease, also called coronary artery disease, is the single leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, accounting for 1/3 of all deaths each year. Coronary heart disease is known as the silent killer, because it sometimes does not show any symptoms, and patients are not aware of a developing medical condition. Coronary heart disease is also a preventable and treatable condition. Patients who already experience symptoms may find that treatment, rather than prevention, is the only option left to fight the disease.
Angina
Coronary heart disease stems from the narrowing of the heart's coronary arteries. When the arteries narrow, blood flow becomes blocked, and the heart cannot get enough oxygen-rich blood. Plaque, a combination of fatty acids and other matter, accumulates in the coronary arteries and prevents optimal blood flow. Over time, plaque causes more problems for the coronary arteries. As plaque eats away at the blood vessels, blood clots form and further the narrowing of the arteries. Symptoms associated with narrowing of the coronary arteries include angina, the term used to describe sharp, penetrating pain that originates in the chest. Women tend to describe angina as a sharp sensation or feeling of tightness under the breastbone that may extend to the arm and jaw. Men sometimes describe angina as a feeling of pressure or tightness occurring in the middle of the chest.
Heart Palpitations
Heart palpitations are symptoms that occur when the heart beats irregularly. The heart may pump blood too fast or too slow, causing a fluttering sensation in the chest. Irregular heartbeats may be a symptom of coronary heart disease, but they may also be caused by inflammation of the heart muscles or a heart valve disorder. Like narrowing of the heart's arteries with plaque buildup, heart palpitations also narrow the pathway of blood. Sometimes after a heart palpitation, temporary dizziness may occur, but severe sensations may cause fainting or difficulty breathing. Other symptoms may include fatigue, weakness, nausea or vomiting. Rare or brief heart palpitations may be harmless, but the fluttering sensation occurring in the chest is one of the symptoms associated with coronary heart disease. Heart palpitations, coupled with angina or any other symptom, may signal the need for immediate medical attention.
Heart Attack
According to the American Heart Association, a heart attack may be one of the first symptoms of coronary heart disease. A heart attack occurs when the buildup of plaque breaks apart in the coronary artery, causing blood clots or ruptures in the artery wall. A severely or completely blocked artery can cause damage to the heart, brain and other organs. A feeling of pressure, fullness or squeezing in the chest may occur, and the symptoms often last longer than a few minutes. Sometimes a heart attack may feel like heartburn or indigestion. Nausea and vomiting, feeling tired or breaking out in a cold sweat are also other symptoms.
Edema
Coronary heart disease may cause harm to other vital organs and body systems, particularly when the condition worsens. The heart fails at meeting the body's demand for blood, causing the condition of heart failure. The kidneys are one of the organs distressed by heart failure. When the kidneys become affected, the body cannot dispose of water and sodium properly. Water retention causes edema, a condition that causes swelling in the legs, ankles and feet. Heart failure often occurs after a patient has experienced one or more symptoms of coronary heart disease, such as changes in breathing patterns, chest sensations, increasing fatigue, peripheral edema or numbness, or nausea and vomiting.
