When the heart's smallest vessels cause big problems
Ongoing studies seek new ways to treat microvascular disease, which can be tricky to diagnose.
Three main arteries, each no bigger than a strand of thin spaghetti, stretch across the surface of your heart. Each branches into progressively smaller and smaller vessels that eventually penetrate your heart muscle. Damage to these tiny vessels can diminish blood flow to the heart — a condition known as coronary microvascular disease.
The symptoms include chest pain or shortness of breath, as well as diffuse chest discomfort or unusual exhaustion. Sound familiar? These symptoms are similar and often just as debilitating as those from classic coronary artery disease, which results from a buildup of cholesterol-laden plaque inside the heart's larger vessels. But unlike that more common manifestation of heart disease, microvascular disease is much more difficult to diagnose.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online Plus (HHO+) to unlock expert-backed health insights, personalized tools, and exclusive resources to feel your best every day.
Here’s what you get with your HHO+ membership:
- Unlimited access to all Harvard Health Online content
- 4 expertly curated newsletters delivered monthly
- Customized website experience aligned to your health goals
- In-depth health guides on topics like sleep, exercise, and more
- Interactive features like videos and quizzes
- Members-only access to exclusive articles and resources
I’d like to subscribe to HHO+ for $4.99/month to access expert-backed content to help make smart, informed decisions about my well-being.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
