What is the most common symptom of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)?

The most common symptom of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is angina. Angina refers to the chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough blood and oxygen, a condition often resulting from the narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries. This symptom is a direct result of insufficient blood flow to the heart and can manifest as a sensation of pressure, squeezing, or aching in the chest, which may also radiate to the shoulders, neck, arms, back, teeth, or jaw.

While chest pain is certainly a prevalent symptom of CAD, angina specifically describes the patterning and characteristics of that chest pain, distinguishing it from other types of discomfort one might experience. Dizziness and fatigue are also symptoms that can arise in various cardiovascular conditions but are not as strongly associated with CAD as angina is. Dizziness may occur due to other factors such as poor blood flow or arrhythmias, while fatigue is a more generalized symptom that can reflect various underlying health issues. Therefore, angina is recognized as the hallmark symptom of CAD, providing both a clinical and patient-centered term that encapsulates this vital experience of patients suffering from this condition.