Cardiologists reveal the unexpected symptoms of clogged arteries and underlying heart disease that you should know about.
5 Silent Signs of Clogged Arteries That Will Surprise You
Updated on Jan. 24, 2025
Coronary artery disease (CAD), better known as clogged arteries, is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to 2023 research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This type of heart disease accounts for about one in four deaths, or approximately 610,000 people every year.
Preventing heart disease in patients is a physician’s main goal, but early detection is the next best thing. This can lead to changes in lifestyle and medical therapies that can delay or deny the onset of a heart attack; almost 80% of heart disease is preventable with lifestyle changes.
If you’re concerned about heart disease, it’s time to learn about the unexpected signs of clogged arteries and heart disease.
What causes clogged arteries?
“Clogged arteries, formally known as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), is caused by a buildup of atherosclerotic plaques in the walls of the arteries,” explains Ashish Sarraju, MD, a cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic. If left unaddressed, this ASCVD can develop into coronary artery disease, the No. 1 killer of Americans.
Edwin Homan, MD, PhD, FACC, a cardiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, says that these artery-clogging plaques most commonly result from:
- High cholesterol levels
- High blood sugar
- High blood pressure
- Cigarette smoking
He explains that some people are at a higher risk for clogged arteries because of genetic traits. In addition to smoking, lifestyle factors, such as physical inactivity and a diet high in saturated fat, also raise someone’s risk of clogged arteries, or atherosclerosis.
So, how do these risk factors cause clogged arteries?
“At a microscopic level, clogged arteries most often result from the buildup of fat- and cholesterol-rich plaque in blood vessels,” Dr. Homan explains. “When the number of cholesterol-carrying particles circulating in the bloodstream is high, they tend to get ‘stuck’ in the blood vessel wall to form these plaques.” High blood pressure can drive cholesterol-carrying particles into blood vessel walls as well, clogging up your arteries.
“Inflammation can also cause blood vessels to be more prone to plaque build-up and clogged arteries,” he says. “Cigarette smoking, high blood sugar from diabetes, or certain autoimmune diseases are examples of factors that can trigger inflammation of blood vessels.”
Silent signs of clogged arteries
“Clogged arteries usually get that way over a period of months to years,” Dr. Homan says—and this ASCVD progression is often marked by a gradual worsening of symptoms with physical exertion. “However, sometimes clogged arteries can develop more quickly when a blood clot forms at a partially clogged artery and causes a total blockage.” If this happens to an artery in the heart—that’s a heart attack.
Here are signs of clogged arteries to look out for.
1. Erectile dysfunction (ED)
Men have a built-in warning system for silent congenital heart disease (CHD). Having difficulty achieving an erection can be one of the signs of clogged arteries in the pelvis that present before a heart attack hits.
There are, on average, three to five years between the onset of erectile dysfunction (ED) and the finding of CHD, which is plenty of time to detect and work on preventing heart issues.
If you and your partner are worried about sexual performance, it’s smart to look for and treat the root causes of diseased arteries before automatically turning to a blue pill for ED.
2. Calf pain when you walk
“Calf pain could be a sign of a clogged artery in that leg, especially when it is worsened by walking and gets better when you rest,” Dr. Homan says. This is because your muscles demand less oxygen when you’re at rest, allowing blood flow to improve.
Pain caused by insufficient blood flow—formally called claudication—may feel like a cramping or sore sensation, as if you had just performed heavy exercise the day before, Dr. Homan explains. “One leg usually feels worse than the other, but both legs could be affected equally.”
He adds that sometimes, people might have pain in their feet, which is worse when lying flat, and gets better when they dangle their legs off the side of the bed. “This is a possible sign of a more severely clogged artery of the leg and should be looked at right away by a medical provider.”
3. Tight jaw
A tight jaw occurs more often in women, but men should be aware of it, too. Aches and pains in the jaw and neck are common symptoms of angina, which is the discomfort that results from poor blood flow to part of the heart. The pain occurs because the vagus nerve (the main nerve that carries pain signals from the heart) is in constant contact with the neck, jaw, head, and left arm.
Visit your doctor to find out if your jaw pain is the result of something benign, such as teeth grinding, or if it’s something you’ll want to monitor with caution.
4. Lower back pain
Your lower back pain might not be just a sign of aging muscles.
According to the Physicians Community for Responsible Medicine, the lower back is often one of the first parts of the body to accumulate plaque. A 2024 review of research in Brain and Spine explains that when clogged arteries cause insufficient blood flow to your spine, the spinal discs weaken and inflame—and the research shows that the lumbar discs (those in your lower back) are particularly affected.
This lumbar disc degeneration and inflammation can cause lower back pain on its own. Still, it also increases the risk of developing a herniated disc or a tendon or muscle tear.
5. Smoking habit
The chemicals in tobacco damage the structure and function of your blood vessels and damage the function of your heart. This damage increases your risk of atherosclerosis, according to the National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute.
In fact, the physiological damage from chronic smoking and signs of clogged arteries go hand in hand, according to Dr. Sarraju. “The symptoms of ASCVD classically are the same—like chest pain, pressure or discomfort with exertion (not necessarily on the left side only), shortness of breath with exertion, or exertional jaw or arm discomfort,” he says. If you’re a smoker and experience these symptoms, there’s a high potential that your arteries are quietly building plaque, too.
That’s why one of the best things you can do to decrease your CHD risk (and your overall health) is to quit smoking.
Other signs of clogged arteries
Mild atherosclerosis often doesn’t cause any symptoms, according to the NIH. But as plaque accumulates, reducing the amount of oxygen-rich blood that gets to your tissues and organs, it can have effects throughout your body.
Dr. Sarraju notes that atherosclerosis symptoms tend to be worsened by exertion and may not always present as symptoms classically associated with heart problems (such as shortness of breath or chest pain.) “Sometimes, heart blockages can present with less typical symptoms such as nausea or upper abdominal discomfort rather than chest discomfort.”
Per the NIH, atherosclerosis can also cause:
- Extreme tiredness or weakness
- Cold sweats
- Dizziness
- Pain in the buttocks, thigh, or foot (as opposed to your calf)
- Vision problems
- Trouble with thinking and memory
- Diarrhea, severe belly pain following meals, or weight loss
The presence of certain symptoms can be dependent on where in your body atherosclerosis is occurring—such as the arteries in your heart muscle, the arteries supplying blood to your brain and spine, or the arteries that flow into your gastrointestinal tract.
When to see a doctor
“It’s a good idea to check with your doctor right away if you’re experiencing new symptoms of chest discomfort, excessive shortness of breath, or consistent leg cramping with walking uphill or climbing stairs,” Dr. Homan says.
However, given that clogged arteries can have different effects throughout the body, Dr. Sarraju notes, “Generally, if there is a symptom that seems to be triggered by exertion or limiting exertion, or if there is a new concerning symptom that you can’t explain, it is a good idea to be evaluated for it.” He adds, “Especially if you have risk factors for heart disease.”
But some signs of clogged arteries are more concerning and require emergency care, Dr. Sarraju says, such as severe chest discomfort or shortness of breath that doesn’t improve and happens at rest. In addition to these severe symptoms, jaw or left shoulder pain, nausea, and sweating can be signs of a heart attack, adds Dr. Homan.
“A similar process can happen to the leg artery and cause new intense leg or foot pain—the foot may also be cool to the touch compared to the other foot,” he says. “Both situations are emergencies and should prompt a call to 911 for immediate medical attention.”
How doctors test for clogged arteries
“There are several nuances that go into this decision of whether to perform testing for ASCVD and, if so, how to do so,” Dr. Sarraju says. “Generally, symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath with exertion will trigger an evaluation for clogged arteries.”
These tests can include electrocardiograms (known as ECGs or EKGs), echocardiograms, stress testing, CT coronary angiography scans, and cardiac catheterization. “The exact test, and whether such testing is even indicated, will be determined by the treating clinician, based on which test is likely to provide the most useful information to improve health in a safe manner.”
Other times, arterial plaque may be detected “accidentally” due to scans done for other reasons. “For example, a CT scan of the chest that is done to check the lungs can pick up on calcified plaques in the coronary arteries (the arteries supplying the heart),” Dr. Sarraju explains. “This can serve as an incidental diagnosis that can be used to improve preventive care.”
How to treat clogged arteries
“Most initial tests try to see if a patient might benefit from opening a potentially clogged artery,” Dr. Homan says.
Sometimes, an artery is only partially clogged and doesn’t significantly block blood flow down the artery. “In these cases, the condition can usually be managed with heart-healthy dietary improvements, increased exercise, and/or certain medications.”
However, if initial tests show that an artery is clogged or that a large amount of muscle supplied by that artery is at risk of damage, your doctor may order an angiogram. This test looks more directly at the blood flow down the artery, Dr. Homan explains.
“If the blockage is confirmed, a stent or balloon may be recommended to open the clogged artery from the inside using small plastic catheters,” he says. “A surgical bypass procedure may be recommended in more severe cases.”
Why you shouldn’t ignore signs of clogged arteries
“If clogged arteries aren’t addressed, it can lead to a heart attack, heart failure, leg amputation, and even death in severe cases,” Dr. Homan says. Other health issues can also arise, depending on where a clogged artery is blocking blood flow in your body.
A clog in the arteries that lead to your heart can trigger an irregular heartbeat, chest pain, or a heart attack—and in more severe cases, heart failure. In addition:
- If a blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain, it can result in a stroke.
- If tissues don’t receive enough oxygen-rich blood due to a clogged artery, this can cause tissue death, also known as gangrene.
- A blood clot that narrows the arteries supplying blood to your kidneys can lead to chronic kidney disease.
What’s more, atherosclerosis is generally in a more advanced stage by the time symptoms appear—so it’s essential that you don’t ignore these signs. When clogged arteries are diagnosed as early as possible, there are many dietary and medical treatments that can help reverse the problem.
How to prevent clogged arteries
“Rather than treating the aftermath, we need to prevent clogged arteries from developing in the first place,” Dr. Homan says. “Prevention is key!”
Dr. Sarraju says that understanding your risk for atherosclerosis and heart disease is an important step for prevention. “See your physician and work on optimizing risk factors,” he says. “The fundamental ones include diet, exercise, cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, smoking, and even sleep.”
“If you have a family history of heart disease at an early age, it is a good idea to meet with your physician to check these risk factors and work on them sooner rather than later, to make sure you get an early start,” Dr. Sarraju says.
Steps to prevent clogged arteries and promote good heart health include:
- Eating a heart-healthy diet and limiting saturated fats, sugar, and processed foods
- Getting at least 30 minutes of daily physical activity
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Getting enough sleep
- Managing your stress levels
- Not smoking—and if you do, quit
- Having your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol regularly checked—and if you’re on medication, take them as prescribed by your doctor.
About the experts
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Sources
- National Institutes of Health (NIH): “Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease”
- Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine: "The Warning Signs of Clogged Arteries"
- Brain and Spine: “A systematic review evaluating the association of atherosclerosis and lumbar degenerative disc disease”
- NIH: “Atherosclerosis Symptoms”
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: "Atherosclerosis"
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