Angina, or angina pectoris, is a kind of chest pain inflicted when the blood flow to the heart decreases. It is one of the symptoms of coronary artery disease. Patients usually describe angina pain as tightness, heaviness, pressure, pain, or squeezing in the chest. Some say that angina feels like a heavy weight on the chest. It might be a new pain that a doctor must assess or a recurring pain following treatment.
While angina is relatively prevalent, it can be hard to differentiate it from other chest pains, such as indigestion discomfort. Anyone with incomprehensible chest pain must seek medical help immediately.
Symptoms
While chest pain is an angina symptom, it affects people differently. One might experience the following symptoms:
- Feeling of fullness in the chest
- Dizziness
- Burning
- Fatigue
- Aching
- Discomfort
- Sweating
- Squeezing
- Shortness of breath
- Vomiting
- Upset stomach
- Feeling of pressure or heaviness
One might often mistake burning or aching for gas or heartburn. There may be complaints of pain behind the breastbone that may spread to the neck, arms, shoulders, back, jaw, or throat. Angina that is stable typically improves upon resting, while the condition of unstable angina may worsen and not improve without medical assistance, which is urgent and necessary.
Angina in men vs. women
Men usually experience pain in the shoulders, neck, and chest. Women may feel discomfort in their belly, back, throat, jaw, or neck. You may also experience dizziness, sweating, or shortness of breath. Studies suggest that women are more likely to use words like crushing or pressing to describe pain.
Causes
Myocardial ischemia, or reduced blood flow to the heart, causes angina. Further, several issues with the coronary arteries prevent the heart from receiving adequate blood. These include the following:
- Coronary artery spasm: The coronary arteries repeatedly tighten and then open up. These spasms can temporarily curtail the blood flow to the heart. One may experience coronary spasms without any coronary artery disease. The diagnosis of coronary artery spasms is impossible with routine coronary artery disease testing. Hence, it may need a special examination that’s probably unavailable at medical centers.
- Coronary artery disease (CAD): It is one of the top causes of angina. It happens when a waxy, fatty substance or plaque builds up in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart. These arteries harden or narrow, lowering the blood flow to the heart.
- Coronary microvascular disease: It is more prevalent in women, or people assigned females at birth than in men, or people assigned males at birth. It damages the tiny blood vessel walls that branch from the coronary arteries. These blood vessels are not noted on typical testing for coronary artery disease and may demand special testing, which is usually absent at most medical centers.
Treatment
Long-term angina treatment helps reduce the symptoms and lower the susceptibility to a heart attack. Here is a list of some treatment measures:
- Lifestyle changes: These help treat the underlying coronary heart disease. Some lifestyle changes one can make include eating balanced meals, reducing stress, and increasing physical activity safely under the supervision of a doctor.
- Prescription treatment: A healthcare professional may recommend certain treatment methods that relax the blood vessels, ensuring more blood flows to the heart.
- Surgery: Some people might have to undergo surgery, such as coronary artery bypass surgery or angioplasty. The doctor may also recommend joining a cardiac rehabilitation program to manage angina and lower the risk of future heart issues.
