Skip to main content
 
Notice: Users may be experiencing issues with displaying some pages on stanfordhealthcare.org. We are working closely with our technical teams to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience.
 

See our updated masking policy »

Stanford Health Care

Atherosclerosis Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of Atherosclerosis?

Symptoms of atherosclerosis, a heart condition where a substance called plaque builds up in the arteries, may develop gradually. As the plaque builds up, the symptoms begin to develop. Your symptoms may vary, depending on which artery is affected. If a major artery is blocked, you may experience severe symptoms, similar to those of a heart attack or stroke.

Learn more about atherosclerosis symptoms in different arteries:

Atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries: Symptoms

These arteries supply blood to your heart. If these arteries are blocked, you may experience:

  • Angina (chest pain)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeat)

Atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries: Symptoms

These arteries supply blood to your brain. Symptoms of a blockage in these arteries are similar to symptoms of a stroke:

  • Weakness
  • Paralysis or numbness in the face, arms or legs
  • Confusion
  • Breathing problems
  • Dizziness
  • Sudden and severe headache

Atherosclerosis in the peripheral arteries: Symptoms

These arteries supply blood to the legs, arms and pelvis. Symptoms of a blockage include numbness and pain in those areas.

Atherosclerosis in the renal arteries: Symptoms

Renal arteries supply blood to your kidneys. Plaque buildup can lead to chronic kidney disease. As kidney disease progresses, symptoms include:

  • Fatigue
  • Changes in how often you urinate
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Itchiness or numbness

Learn more about:

Heart Disease is Preventable.

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.

Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.

Open Trials Closed Trials

Clinics for Symptoms