Coronary artery disease It may develop gradually without the patient noticing. Some may have no clear signs until an acute myocardial ischemia occurs. Therefore, repeated abnormalities should not be ignored. Thairath Online summarizes the early symptoms of coronary artery disease Early symptom recognition increases the chance of timely treatment.
Coronary artery disease or ischemic heart disease (Coronary Artery Disease) is a condition where the arteries supplying blood and oxygen to the heart muscle narrow due to the buildup of fat, calcium, or plaque on the vessel walls. This restricts blood flow and causes insufficient oxygen to the heart. As plaque accumulates, arteries may severely narrow or become blocked, potentially leading to acute myocardial ischemia or a heart attack.
A common symptom is pain, pressure, or tightness in the center of the chest, feeling like a heavy weight pressing down. This often occurs when walking fast, climbing stairs, exercising, or doing heavy work, and may ease after resting. Even temporary symptoms like this should not be ignored.
Chest pain or tightness may radiate to the arms, especially the left arm, as well as the shoulders, neck, jaw, or back. If these occur alongside chest tightness, difficulty breathing, or heavy sweating, it may signal ischemic heart disease requiring urgent treatment.
Patients may feel breathless, unable to take a full breath, or unusually easily tired due to the heart's reduced ability to pump blood, particularly during activities they could normally perform.
Everyday activities like walking short distances, doing housework, or climbing stairs may cause more fatigue than usual. Easy fatigue during exertion is an early sign to watch for, especially if it recurs or worsens.
Some may experience palpitations, feeling that the heart beats fast, strong, or irregularly, along with fatigue and chest tightness. Frequent occurrences warrant medical evaluation to determine the cause, as these symptoms may indicate heart abnormalities.
Insufficient blood flow from the heart to the body can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting feelings. Severe symptoms leading to loss of consciousness are dangerous signs requiring emergency hospital care.
Some patients may have less typical symptoms than usual chest pain, such as a burning sensation in the upper stomach or epigastric area, nausea, vomiting, or heavy sweating. If these occur with chest tightness, difficulty breathing, or pain radiating to the arms, neck, jaw, be alert for acute myocardial ischemia.
In the early stage of coronary artery disease, symptoms are usually mild and occur when the heart is working hard, such as during exercise, climbing stairs, or physical labor. These may include chest tightness, easy fatigue, palpitations, or breathing difficulty, which often improve with rest.
As the disease worsens, symptoms may occur more frequently, even without exertion, or not improve with rest. However, some patients may show no symptoms before diagnosis during routine health checks.
If severe chest pain lasts continuously for more than 15–20 minutes or does not improve with rest, immediate hospital care is necessary, especially if accompanied by these symptoms:
However, chest tightness and breathing difficulty do not always indicate coronary artery disease, as they can also result from lung disease, musculoskeletal problems, or stress. Diagnosis requires proper medical evaluation and testing. If abnormal symptoms recur, especially during exertion, prompt examination is advised to avoid worsening conditions.
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