Symptoms of Arterial Blockage in the Heart

An arterial blockage in the heart is the accumulation of plaque within one or more blood vessels in the body. Blood vessels or arteries usually get blocked due to high intake of fats or cholesterol contents in a person's diet over the years. An arterial blockage can occur within any artery in the body, and the symptoms of arterial blockage in the heart differ as per the location of the deposit. The heart delivers fresh oxygenated blood to different parts of the body with each heartbeat. The blood is supplied to the heart through these arteries, also known as coronary arteries that run on the surface of the heart. When these arteries get blocked due to excessive consumption of fatty substances, the blood flow becomes restricted, indicating a reduction in the amount of oxygen and nutrients delivered to the body's tissue and organs.

Symptoms of Arterial Blockage in the Heart

Heart blockage symptoms can be pretty confusing as they can be so diverse and can manifest along such biological locations that, most of the time, they are not identified as pertaining to possible heart conditions. Following are some of the most common symptoms of arterial blockage:-

• Chest Pain: A person suffering from arterial blockage usually experiences some level of chest pain. Also known as angina, this pain can be dull, tight, acute, and can be persistent or fleeting. Normally felt within the chest region, the pain can also emanate into the abdomen, shoulder, arm or even the jaw.
• Respiratory Disturbance: The arterial blockage can also cause respiratory disturbance which typically manifests as shortness of breath. Since the flow of blood to the heart is restricted, the body experiences deprivation of oxygen which eventually leads to fatigue, exhaustion and lightheadedness.
• Nausea: It is a silent symptom of arterial blockage and shouldn't be ignored, especially when it is accompanied by other symptoms. Sometimes it is so significant that it causes a person to vomit.
• Weakness: When the blockage occurs in one or more arteries of the blood, the person may suffer from weakness in one side of the body or face. The person may also experience numbness or even paralysis within an arm, leg, or in half of the face.
• Verbal Disruptions: There can be a possibility of verbal disruptions when a person has arterial blockage within the carotid arteries to the brain. Due to this, the person may start to garble or slur his speech.
• Blindness: It can also cause a sudden and unexpected blindness to the right or left eye. For some people, it may be the first symptom that they experience, but for others it may have been preceded by weakness or verbal disruptions.

The most common blood vessels that gets effected by arterial blockage are carotid or coronary arteries. A blockage of the carotid artery is symptomized by weakness, difficulty in moving limbs and slurred speech. However, if a blockage develops in any of the peripheral arteries, the person may suffer from intense pain in the legs during walking or running.

Diagnosis and Treatment for Arterial Blockage in the Heart

There are mainly two types of tests for diagnosing arterial blockage in the heart. One group includes different kinds of stress tests, and the other includes coronary angiogram, (also known as heart cath and CT angiogram), that gives an actual image of the anatomy of the heart arteries. One of the most effective methods used to treat arterial blockage is to fit a pacemaker near the heart. The pacemaker is a small, battery-driven device that transmits electrical signals to keep the heartbeats regular.

Arterial blockage reduces the heart's efficiency in pushing blood around the body. The symptoms of arterial blockage in the heart as we have seen vary from chest pain to blindness. Hence, to minimize these symptoms, it becomes vital to follow a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and avoid intake of high fat and cholesterol foods.