Coronary heart disease (CHD) happens when there is a narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels that take blood to the heart. Find out more about CHD and how it is treated. 

What is coronary heart disease (CHD)? 

The tubes that carry blood to the heart muscle are called the coronary arteries. The blood in the coronary arteries contains oxygen that heart muscle needs to work properly. 

Coronary heart disease happens when the sides of the coronary arteries are narrowed by a build up of fatty material. The narrow arteries cannot take as much oxygen to the heart muscle. This is particularly important when the heart muscle has to work harder, for example during physical activity. It is the lack of oxygen to the muscle that causes symptoms.

If a blood clot forms over the fatty areas, the coronary artery is completely blocked and the heart muscle suddenly gets no oxygen at all and stops working altogether. This is a heart attack. 

What symptoms does coronary heart disease (CHD) cause? 

Angina

This is the most common symptom of CHD. People with angina can feel: 

	Dizziness
	Pain in neck or arm
	Chest discomfort or pain – tightness, squeezing, crushing feeling – “like an elephant sitting on my chest”
	Shortness of breath
	Nausea/vomiting
	Cold sweat
	Tiredness

Angina is usually set off by physical activity or exertion, including exercise and sex. Stress, cold weather and eating a large meal can also be triggers. 

The amount and severity of symptoms varies from person to person.  

Angina attacks usually settle with resting or with medication such as a glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) spray. 

Heart attack

It can be difficult to tell the difference between angina and a heart attack as the symptoms are the same. 

However, the symptoms of a heart attack: 

• are more severe: the pain is worse and is often accompanied by drenching sweating, nausea and vomiting  
• last longer 
• don’t settle with rest or when you take medication