Atherosclerosis damages organs by reducing blood flow to the organ. Atherosclerosis can cause many symptoms, depending on which area of the body is damaged. Symptoms may start suddenly.

Symptoms of atherosclerosis include:

• Chest pain
• Severe abdominal pain
• Severe back pain
• Severe arm pain
• Severe leg pain
• Severe headache
• Shortness of breath
• Leg swelling (bilateral)
• Sudden numbness in one arm or leg:
• Arm numbness (unilateral)
• Leg numbness (unilateral)
• Arm and leg numbness (unilateral)
• Sudden weakness in one arm or leg:
• Arm weakness (unilateral)
• Leg weakness (unilateral)
• Arm and leg weakness (unilateral)

For more information:

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm symptoms
• Dissecting thoracic aneurysm symptoms
• Heart attack symptoms
• High blood pressure symptoms
• Ischemic bowel disease symptoms
• Kidney disease symptoms
• Peripheral vascular disease symptoms
• Stroke symptoms