Symptoms of coronary artery disease

Angina is one of the noticeable signs of coronary artery disease. It is a warning sign that the heart is temporarily not getting enough blood and oxygen to handle its workload. Angina does not cause permanent damage to the heart muscle.

Angina may feel like a heart attack, but it is different. Most angina attacks last from two minutes to 15 minutes. This is because the blood supply is reduced but not cut off. Angina is characterized by:

• a feeling of indigestion or “fullness”
• discomfort, aching, pressure, tightness, heaviness or burning sensation in or near the chest, back, arms, shoulders, between shoulder blades, neck, throat or jaw

Women's symptoms

Anything that elevates blood pressure or heart rate can result in angina:

• smoking
• physical activity 
• heavy meals
• hot or iced drinks
• hot baths and saunas
• emotional stress
• exposure to extreme temperatures

Angina can be treated with coronary interventions such as angioplasty, stent, surgery, medications and risk factor control. What therapy you receive depends on your situation and what your cardiologist feels is appropriate.