Early coronary artery disease may have no symptoms. Angina pectoris, or chest pain, may be one of the earliest symptoms of coronary artery disease. A person may feel a sense of heaviness, tightness, pain, burning, pressure, or squeezing, usually behind the breastbone but sometimes radiating to the arms, neck, or jaw.

Other possible symptoms include unexplained sweating, weakness, dizziness, or loss of consciousness. Feeling short of breath, experiencing an irregular heart beat or loss of stamina during exercise are other possible symptoms. Some people may also experience stomach pain, indigestion, nausea or vomiting.

Unfortunately, some people have coronary artery disease or even heart attacks without ever experiencing any of these symptoms. This can be especially true for people with diabetes.