What are common symptoms of coronary artery disease?

Chest pain, also known as angina, is a hallmark symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD). This occurs due to the narrowing of the coronary arteries which restricts blood flow to the heart. When the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood, typically during physical exertion or emotional stress, it can lead to sensations of chest discomfort, pressure, or squeezing. This type of pain is often described as feeling much like a heavy weight on the chest.

In CAD, the angina can manifest in various forms, such as stable angina, which occurs predictably with exertion, or unstable angina, which may occur at rest and can be a precursor to more serious heart conditions like heart attacks. Recognizing chest pain as a critical symptom enables timely intervention and management of coronary artery disease, thus improving patient outcomes.

The other options, while they may indicate other medical issues, do not specifically relate to the classic presentation of coronary artery disease and thus would not be considered common symptoms associated with it.