What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease?

The most common symptoms of coronary artery disease (CAD) are:

• Chest pain or chest discomfort (angina) or pain in one or both arms or in the left shoulder, neck, jaw, or back
• Shortness of breath
  

The severity of symptoms varies widely. Symptoms may become more severe as coronary arteries become narrower due to the buildup of plaque (atherosclerosis).

In some people, the first sign of CAD is a heart attack. A heart attack happens when plaque in a coronary artery breaks apart, causing a blood clot to form and block the artery.