What are the symptoms of a blocked artery?

Do you know the signs of a clogged artery? If you do have a blocked artery, you may not be able to tell. You can’t feel a clogged artery, so many people don’t know they have blocked arteries until they experience an emergency such as a heart attack.

Fortunately, certain lifestyle changes and treatments can help lower your risk of a blocked artery. At Aurora Health Care, we offer a full range of care to prevent and treat blocked arteries.

What causes a blocked artery?

Blocked arteries are usually caused by atherosclerosis. This condition occurs when fat, calcium, cholesterol and other substances build up in your arteries, the blood vessels that carry blood throughout your body.

When atherosclerosis occurs in your coronary arteries, which send blood to your heart, it causes coronary artery disease. In fact, atherosclerosis is the most common cause of coronary artery disease.

Angina symptoms versus heart attack signs

Chest pain (angina) is one of the most common symptoms of a blocked artery. But it’s also one of the most well-known signs of a heart attack, so it can be hard to know if chest pain is an emergency.

The difference is whether chest pain goes away with rest. For example, you usually experience angina when you physically exert yourself or experience a strong emotional reaction. But the pain tends to go away when you rest or calm down. In a heart attack, the chest pain continues even at rest.

Angina isn’t a disease. It’s a symptom of a more serious condition such as coronary artery disease. Angina pain may:

• Begin in your breastbone (sternum)
• Extend to your left arm or shoulder
• Radiate to your jaw or upper back

Other signs you may have atherosclerosis (blocked arteries)

Additional symptoms of a clogged artery may include:

• Dizziness or weakness
• Heart palpitations, or sensations of your heart racing or fluttering
• Nausea or sweating
• Shortness of breath

Your doctor may also use tests that look for signs of atherosclerosis, such as:

• A weak or absent pulse
• A whooshing sound (bruit) in your artery
• Low blood pressure in one of your arms or legs

What to do if you have symptoms of a blocked artery

If you have chest pain that increases with activity and goes away with rest, call your health care provider. You may need tests to look for or rule out a blocked artery.

If you have sudden chest pain without exerting yourself, it may be a symptom of a heart attack. If you think you could be having a heart attack, call 911 immediately.

How to lower your risk of a blocked artery

You can lower your risk of developing atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease by:

• Eating a nutritious diet
• Exercising regularly
• Managing stress with healthy coping techniques
• Taking medications to lower cholesterol or blood pressure, as needed
• Quitting smoking

Atherosclerosis: Early detection is the best prevention

Atherosclerosis is highly treatable when it’s diagnosed early. Don’t wait until symptoms develop: Be proactive about your heart health.

When Amanda Bainer, just 35 years old, went into cardiac arrest, paramedics rushed her to Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee. But 45 minutes of CPR couldn’t resuscitate her. Her left anterior descending artery (LAD) was blocked. She had suffered a type of heart attack commonly called the “widow maker.”

Aurora St. Luke’s has the only 24/7 on-site cardiac team in Wisconsin, and they quickly got to work. They placed a stent to open the blocked artery and put Bainer on life support.

“Less than 10 percent of people survive to the point she was at,” says Dr. William Fischer, cardiothoracic surgeon at Aurora St. Luke’s. “Our ECMO machine was doing the work for her heart and lungs and keeping her alive.” But after two days, she woke up and was able to return home a few days later.

Tests that show blocked arteries in the heart

Some tests that show blocked arteries in the heart are echocardiogram, computed tomography angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and intravascular ultrasound.

Is a heart scan right for you?

A heart scan may be right for you if you’re at least 35, have not been previously diagnosed with heart disease, don’t have a pacemaker and have at least two risk factors for coronary artery disease.

Aurora Health Care offers quick and inexpensive tests to determine your risk of developing coronary artery disease. A simple heart scan could prevent a heart attack – and it may even save your life. Learn more about our $49 heart scans.