Do clogged arteries cause any symptoms?
In many instances, clogged arteries do not cause any symptoms until a major event, such as a heart attack or stroke, occurs. At other times, though, the build-up of arterial plaque may cause symptoms. Exactly what symptoms depends on which arteries are clogged. Clogged arteries in coronary artery disease may cause: • chest pain • shortness of breath • heart palpitations • weakness or dizziness • nausea • sweating The first symptom, chest pain, is also called angina. It may result from reduced blood flow to the heart. That reduced blood flow is caused by plaque in the arteries leading to the heart. Clogged arteries in carotid artery disease may cause stroke precursors known as transient ischemic attacks, or TIAs.
