One symptom of coronary artery disease is an angina. This symptom occurs when the heart muscle doesn't receive enough oxygen via the blood. The diminished blood flow can cause chest pain. An angina is a type of chest pain. It is a somewhat common type of chest pain, but it is difficult to identify because it can sometimes resemble other ailments, like indigestion, suggests the Mayo Clinic. Medication can resolve some types of angina but not all.
Chest Pain
Because angina is a type of chest pain, the discomfort associated with this ailment is primarily focused on the torso. This includes an unusual feeling of pressure on the chest. Some may describe the sensation as squeezing, burning or fullness in the center of the chest, suggests the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It is also possible for an individual to struggle to understand where the pain is coming from at times.
The Mayo Clinic elaborates that some individuals may report feeling something like a vise squeezing the chest or feeling as if a heavy weight is resting on the torso. Length and intensity of the chest discomfort can vary for each person. This also depends on whether the individual is experiencing a stable or unstable angina. Stable angina refers to one that occurs during physical exertion and an unstable angina occurs while at rest, according to the NIH.
Other Pain
When the heart doesn't receive adequate oxygen through the blood, it can cause the surrounding areas to experience symptoms of pain as well. This includes the arms, neck, jaw, shoulder or back. The Mayo Clinic points out that these symptoms are potential indicators of an impending heart attack. The NIH says that women are more likely to experience pain in the back, shoulders or abdomen. The pain may last five minutes or less in a stable angina or as long as 30 minutes in an unstable angina.
Physiological Symptoms
As the heart rate changes from the diminished oxygen in the blood, the results may be shortness of breath, dizziness or fatigue. An individual may experience nausea or sweating. These are common symptoms of anxiety, another symptom of angina. The individual may feel weak, perhaps suddenly. Some of the anxiety may be due to an individual assuming they are about to have a heart attack or other serious heart issue.
