1. Chest discomfort or pain
One of the most common red flags is pressure, tightness, or discomfort in the chest, known as angina.
This is usually caused by atherosclerosis, where plaque made of fat, cholesterol, and calcium builds up inside artery walls. As plaque hardens and narrows the arteries, it restricts blood flow to the heart.
When the heart doesn’t get enough oxygen—especially during physical or emotional stress—it triggers pain that can extend to the neck, shoulders, back, or arms.
This pain isn’t relieved by antacids and tends to come on during activity and fade during rest. In some cases, a plaque rupture can cause a clot and lead to a heart attack. Never dismiss chest pain like this.
