Coronary Heart Disease (CHD): Know the SymptomsCoronary heart disease most commonly causes chest pain (angina) or a heart attack, but symptoms can vary. Some people experience no warning signs before diagnosis.Angina (Partial Blockage)
What it feels like:
Mild discomfort (similar to indigestion)
Severe tightness/heaviness in the center of the chest, possibly spreading to arms, neck, jaw, back, or stomach
Triggers: Physical activity or stress
Duration: Typically eases within 10 minutes
Relief: Rest or nitrate medication (spray/tablet)
Heart Attack (Complete Blockage)
A medical emergency – call 999 immediately if you suspect a heart attack.
Symptoms may include:
Prolonged chest pain (similar to angina but more severe)
Sweating, nausea, or lightheadedness
Sudden breathlessness
Pain radiating to the left arm, neck, or jaw
A "silent" heart attack (no symptoms, more common in diabetes)
Key differences from angina:
Pain lasts longer than 15 minutes
Occurs even at rest
Not relieved by nitrates
Don’t ignore symptoms – even mild discomfort could signal a serious problem. If in doubt, seek urgent help.
Heart failure
Heart failure can also occur in people with CHD when the heart becomes too weak to pump blood around the body, which can cause fluid to build up in the lungs that makes it increasingly difficult to breathe.Heart failure can happen suddenly (acute heart failure) or gradually over time (chronic heart failure).
Want to know more?
British Heart Foundation: angina
British Heart Foundation: cardiovascular disease
British Heart Foundation: heart attack