Basics of Heart and Vascular Disease

Understanding heart disease

Understanding heart disease is an important step to taking action to help reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular problems. The heart pumps blood throughout the body, carrying oxygen to the heart and the rest of the body through blood vessels called arteries.

Sometimes a fatty material called plaque builds up in the arteries. Plaque can narrow the arteries and inhibit the flow of blood and oxygen. Plaque buildup in the coronary arteries can lead to a heart attack (medically known as a myocardial infarction).

Some risk factors for heart disease can't be controlled: age, gender or family history.

Other heart disease risk factors can be controlled, such as high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, physical activity or being overweight.

How heart disease develops

Heart disease develops when plaque clogs or blocks one or more coronary arteries (atherosclerosis).

Atherosclerosis develops in stages. First, medical conditions, poor lifestyle habits or other factors damage the walls of the coronary arteries. Cholesterol and other fatty substances in the blood collect on the damaged artery walls.

The fatty substances build up, layer upon layer, and form a hard substance called plaque. The plaque buildup narrows the artery, decreasing or blocking the flow of blood.

Is it angina or a heart attack?

Angina does not cause permanent damage to the heart muscle; a heart attack causes permanent damage and can be fatal

Angina symptoms

Go away with rest
Do not last more than 20 minutes
Occur with exertion or excitement

Angina occurs when your coronary arteries are severely blocked. Although scary, angina does not cause permanent damage.

A heart attack occurs when one or more coronary arteries are completely blocked. A heart attack causes permanent damage to the heart muscle and can be fatal.

Heart attack symptoms

Do not go away with rest
Last more than 20 minutes
May occur without activity or excitement

Heart attack warning signs

Chest discomfort
Discomfort in one or both arms
Shortness of breath
Back, neck, jaw or stomach discomfort
Breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

Heart attack symptoms can differ between women and men

Heart disease can develop for years without symptoms, and when women have heart attacks, they may experience symptoms besides chest pain. These lists highlight the differences.

Heart attack symptoms in men
Heart attack symptoms in men
- Chest pain—Discomfort in the center of the chest, often described as crushing.
- Shortness of breath—May occur simultaneously or before chest pain.
- Sweating—May break into a sweat with cold, clammy skin. More common in men.
- Throat, neck, back or jaw pain—Discomfort may be felt in other areas of the upper body.
- Nausea, vomiting or indigestion—May feel nauseated and vomit.
- Anxiety—May feel a sense of doom.
- Fatigue—Fatigue is less common in men.
Heart attack symptoms in women
Heart attack symptoms in women
- Chest pain—Pain may be mild or absent, often described as pressure, dullness or ache.
- Shortness of breath—May occur simultaneously or before chest pain. More common in women.
- Sweating—May break into a sweat with cold, clammy skin.
- Throat, neck, back or jaw pain—Discomfort may be felt in other areas of the upper body. More common in women.
- Nausea, vomiting or indigestion—Feel nauseated and vomit. More common in women.
- Anxiety—Heart attacks in women may be mistaken for panic attacks with shortness of breath, anxiety and indigestion.
- Fatigue—Many report a sudden onset of unusual fatigue as their only warning sign of a heart attack.

Heart attack symptoms in men

Chest pain—Discomfort in the center of the chest, often described as crushing.
Shortness of breath—May occur simultaneously or before chest pain.
Sweating—May break into a sweat with cold, clammy skin. More common in men.
Throat, neck, back or jaw pain—Discomfort may be felt in other areas of the upper body.
Nausea, vomiting or indigestion—May feel nauseated and vomit.
Anxiety—May feel a sense of doom.
Fatigue—Fatigue is less common in men.

Heart attack symptoms in women

Chest pain—Pain may be mild or absent, often described as pressure, dullness or ache.
Shortness of breath—May occur simultaneously or before chest pain. More common in women.
Sweating—May break into a sweat with cold, clammy skin.
Throat, neck, back or jaw pain—Discomfort may be felt in other areas of the upper body. More common in women.
Nausea, vomiting or indigestion—Feel nauseated and vomit. More common in women.
Anxiety—Heart attacks in women may be mistaken for panic attacks with shortness of breath, anxiety and indigestion.
Fatigue—Many report a sudden onset of unusual fatigue as their only warning sign of a heart attack.

Silent ischemia

Not all heart attacks have obvious symptoms, such as chest pain and shortness of breath. A heart attack can occur without the person knowing due to there being minimum or no symptoms. Silent ischemia occurs when there is a lack of oxygen to the heart muscle due to temporarily blocked blood flow, and it is often referred to as a silent heart attack.

If you believe you are having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Understanding heart disease

How heart disease develops

Healthy vs. unhealthy arteries

What's at risk

Aortic aneurysm

Stroke

Peripheral artery disease (PAD)