The deposits may narrow - or block - your arteries. Eventually, deposits called plaques may form. If you have too many cholesterol particles in your blood, cholesterol may accumulate on your artery walls. Your doctor may want to test you for coronary artery disease, especially if you have signs or symptoms of narrowed arteries. If you have risk factors for coronary artery disease - such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, tobacco use, diabetes, obesity a strong family history of heart disease - talk to your doctor. If you don't have access to emergency medical services, have someone drive you to the nearest hospital. If you think you're having a heart attack, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Sometimes a heart attack occurs without any apparent signs or symptoms. And they may have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue and nausea. Women are somewhat more likely than men are to have less typical signs and symptoms of a heart attack, such as neck or jaw pain. The classic signs and symptoms of a heart attack include crushing pressure in your chest and pain in your shoulder or arm, sometimes with shortness of breath and sweating. A completely blocked coronary artery will cause a heart attack. If your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs, you may develop shortness of breath or extreme fatigue with activity. In some people, especially women, the pain may be brief or sharp and felt in the neck, arm or back. The pain usually goes away within minutes after stopping the stressful activity. Angina is generally triggered by physical or emotional stress. This pain, called angina, usually occurs on the middle or left side of the chest. You may feel pressure or tightness in your chest, as if someone were standing on your chest. As plaque continues to build up in your coronary arteries, however, you may develop the following coronary artery disease signs and symptoms:
At first, the decreased blood flow may not cause any symptoms. If your coronary arteries narrow, they can't supply enough oxygen-rich blood to your heart - especially when it's beating hard, such as during exercise.