Though atherosclerosis occurs in nearly all larger arteries, it is asymptomatic for most of its course and often undetectable by living diagnostic means. Angina is caused by restricted blood flow, often due to atherosclerosis. Patients experience this symptom as a sense of pressure or squeezing discomfort in the chest. It may also be experienced within your shoulders, arms, neck, or back.
The pain in the chest usually worsens with activity and improves with rest. Pain can also be induced by emotional stress. The condition occurs when the fatty material builds up the arterial walls, narrowing the artery and reducing its elasticity. The narrowing, which decreases blood supply to the heart, results in pain in the chest.
