Overview

Small vessel disease is a condition in which the walls of the small arteries in the heart aren't working properly. This reduces the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart, causing chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, and other signs and symptoms of heart disease.

Small vessel disease may also be called:

• Coronary microvascular disease
• Microvascular endothelial dysfunction

Small vessel disease is treatable but may be difficult to detect. The condition is typically diagnosed after a health care provider finds little or no narrowing in the main arteries of the heart despite the presence of symptoms that suggest heart disease.

Small vessel disease is more common in women and in people who have diabetes or high blood pressure.