REJAS	WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
Intro to CHD What is CHD? What Causes CHD? Are There Treatments? Helpful Organizations About the Author HOME	Atherosclerosis can be present and can affect the arteries in the body for years without causing any symptoms.  CHD can begin as early as childhood.  Some symptoms occur in people when they reach their 30s, while others do not have symptoms until their 50s or 60s.  When the heart is not receiving enough blood, people with CHD have episodes of cardiac ischemia.  Some people do not feel any symptoms during the periodic episodes.  This is known as silent ischemia.          Others may experience severe chest pain, along with pressure, tightness, discomfort, and a squeezing sensation.  This is kow as angina pectoris.  It usually occurs when the heart demands an extra supply of blood, like exercising or emotional distress.  The symptoms of angina can be mistaken for gas and indigestion. Angina usually starts in the center of the chest and can move to the arm, back, neck, throat, and/or jaw.  Numbness may occur in the arms, shoulders, and/or wrists.      Cardiac ischemia could also cause a cardiac arrest (occurs when the heart stops beating) or heart failure if it is very severe.  If heart failure occurs some symptoms may include swelling of the feet, ankles, and legs and shortness of breath.  If a heart attack occurs some symptoms may include intense pain in the chest, fainting, shortness of breath, sweating, and nausea or vomiting.