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Angina Overview
Aangina is a type of chest pain that can occur because of reduced blood flow to the heart.
Angina (also referred to as angina pectoris) is usually described as a kind of squeezing, pressure, heaviness, or tightness in the chest. Typically, angina lasts from one to 15 minutes. Sometimes it is a one-time occurrence, but other times it is indicative of an ongoing condition that needs treatment–possibly heart disease.
Angina is separated into the different classes of the condition: stable, unstable, and variant.
What Causes Angina?
Angina is a relatively common condition, and most of the time, it is stable. Stable angina can occur for a number of reasons, including after overexertion caused by things like walking uphill or walking in cold weather. This kind of angina typically goes away with rest.
Unstable angina, by contrast, can occur after exertion or stress, but could also occur at rest. The severity of the chest pain with unstable angina worsens, increasing in frequency and pain level. An unstable angina attack should be considered a medical emergency, since it can lead to heart attack, heart failure, or arrhythmias, and you should seek treatment immediately.
A third type, known as variant angina or Prinzmetal’s angina, generally happens at rest, and is often severe. This type is rarer, and is caused by a spasm in your heart’s arteries which reduces the blood flow temporarily.
Risk factors that can lead to angina include tobacco use, diabetes, high blood pressure, family history of heart disease, lack of exercise, older age, obesity, and stress.
Symptoms
Symptoms of angina include the following:
- Chest pain or discomfort (pressure, squeezing, burning, or fullness)
- Pain in the arms, neck, jaw, shoulder, or back
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
- Dizziness
In women, symptoms can vary, and include:
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
- Abdominal pain
- Discomfort in the neck, jaw, or back
- Stabbing pain rather than chest pressure or squeezing
Differences in symptoms for women can sometimes mean that people don’t recognize the problem they’re dealing with and realize they should seek medical treatment. The same is true for heart disease in women.
If you recognize the symptoms of angina, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. A doctor can determine whether your condition is stable, or if it is indicative of a possible heart attack.
Treatment
Angina treatment depends on the severity of the condition, and can include lifestyle changes for more long-term relief, such as stopping smoking, controlling weight, checking cholesterol levels, resting, avoiding large meals, avoiding stress, and eating a diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and lean meats.
Treatment can also involve medications like beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-covering enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, oral anti-platelet medicines, and anticoagulants.
In some instances, people with angina require surgical procedures to relieve the condition, such as angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting.
