When atherosclerosis is advanced, the flow of blood can be reduced enough that when the heart is asked to work harder than usual - for example,  when your exercising or climbing stairs, or simply eating a heavy meal , it can’t get the blood flow that it needs.

Typically, the heart signals that it is struggling by producing a feeling of chest discomfort, a condition that doctors call angina. Angina can take many forms; the sensations can include weakness, heaviness, pressure, tightness, and even pain in the middle of the chest. People with angina may also feel this discomfort at some distance from the heart - in the arms, abdomen, back, neck, and lower jaw. Angina is simply the hearts way of saying there is a mismatch between the oxygen rich blood flow it needs and what is actually arriving for it to use. Usually, if you have this symptom, the discomfort goes away when you stop whatever activity is causing your heart to work harder than usual. You should also know that not everyone has this feeling when there is a problem with blood flow to the heart, but it usually is an important signal when it occurs.

If you experience any symptoms in the list below, you should let your doctor know because they could be an indication of heart disease. These symptoms are not always caused by heart disease; they may be harmless or due to other medical conditions. But if you already have heart disease, these symptoms are enough to indicate a potential heart problem and reason enough for you to check with your doctor, especially if these symptoms are new.

Discomfort in your chest that comes on during physical exertion or emotional stress; it may spread to your arms, neck, lower jaw, face, back, or stomach. If this discomfort is from your heart, it is called “angina”.

Unusual breathlessness when doing light activity or when you are at rest can be a symptom of heart disease. Breathlessness that comes on suddenly may be an important warning sign.

Palpitation is the term used to describe the condition in which you feel your heart beat faster or more forcefully than usual, or an irregular pattern. Palpitations may be a symptom of heart disease, especially if the ylast for a few hours, if they come and go over several days, or if the ycause chest pain, breathlessness, or dizziness.

Fainting can be caused by inadequate oxygen reaching the brain, which may be due to heart disease.

Swelling or fluid retention is fluid buildup in your tissues. This usually happens arount the ankles, legs lungs, and abdomen. Swelling of the legs can be perfectly normal for some people after working many hours on their feet. However, it can also be a sign that the heart is not pumping efficiently.

Fatigue has many causes, but it’s worth seeing the doctor if you feel unusually tired, especially if it is combined with other suspicious symptoms noted above.

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