The symptoms of atherosclerosis do not tend to manifest themselves until an artery becomes significantly narrowed or blocked completely. In such cases, the disease lets its presence be known by causing a medical crisis within the body, such as a stroke or a heart attack. In some cases, depending on the arteries under fire, symptoms may be visible.

The arteries of the body are responsible for the passage of oxygenated blood into one's heart, and when that is prevented due to thinning of the arteries, the symptoms usually manifest themselves in the form of squeezing chest pains, a symptom known as angina. These pains can also be felt in various other parts of the body. They tend to vanish during periods of rest, though.

When blood flow to the brain is truncated due to the blockage or narrowing of arteries, the symptoms of a stroke can appear in the form of sudden lapses in physical coordination, numbing of the body and physical weaknesses. When the narrowed or blocked arteries prevent blood flow to the limbs and the pelvis, the organs may become numb, may cause immense pain, and may even become infected if left untreated as a result of cellular destruction en masse.