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AnginaIntroduction:
Angina is chest pain caused by restricted blood flow to the heart (called ischemia). It usually occurs when you are under emotional or physical stress (such as exercise). The heart doesn't get enough oxygen from the coronary arteries, and you feel a squeezing chest pain or pressure across your chest, which usually goes away after you stop the activity. The most common cause of angina is atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
Stable angina usually occurs when you exercise and is fairly predictable. It is relieved with rest or nitroglycerin. Unstable angina, on the other hand, can occur when you are resting, or at unpredictable times. It can lead to a heart attack, so if you experience unstable angina you should immediately call 911.
It can be difficult to determine whether your chest pain is something serious or whether it is a milder condition. For that reason, you should always see your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment. Angina can lead to a heart attack, so you should never try to diagnose or treat it on your own.
Signs and Symptoms:Chest pain from angina can feel like pain due to other causes such as heartburn, a muscle strain, asthma, etc. When in doubt, assume that the pain is related to your heart until proven otherwise, especially if you are experiencing pain that you have never felt before.
The classic chest pain from angina feels like significant pressure, squeezing, or tightness in the center of your chest. It's been described as feeling like a band across the chest or a weight pressing down on the chest. You may also feel pain in your left arm and shoulder, neck, and jaw. Other possible feelings include indigestion, rapid or skipping heartbeat, or mild discomfort.
Causes:Coronary heart disease, which occurs when the arteries leading to the heart become narrowed or blocked by plaque, is almost always the cause of angina.
Risk Factors:The risk factors for angina are the same as the risk factors for developing heart disease including:
Age
Male gender
Menopause
Family history of heart disease
Diabetes
Smoking or exposure to second hand smoke
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Obesity
Sedentary lifestyle
Stress
Diagnosis:Your doctor may run several tests to determine the cause of your chest pain.
Electrocardiogram (ECG), which records heart activity through electrodes fastened to your chest.
Stress test, which measures how your heart performs when you exert yourself. You will be hooked up to an ECG machine and may be asked to exercise (usually on a treadmill or stationary bike) or you may be given a drug that causes your heart to act as it does when you exercise. The stress test also may be done with imaging (like thallium, sestimibi, or an echocardiogram) to look at the blood flow and muscle function of your heart.
Coronary catheterization, which examines arteries to see if they are narrowed or blocked, involves injecting a dye into your arteries through a thin catheter.
Other tests may include an electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) scan or cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Preventive Care:If you will be doing an activity that usually triggers your angina, your doctor may tell you to take nitroglycerin a few minutes in advance to prevent the pain.
The best prevention for angina is to modify as many risk factors for heart disease as possible:
Stop smoking
Maintain a proper weight
Control blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol
Eat a diet low in saturated fats, and high in whole grains, fiber, fruits, and vegetables
Exercise at least 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week
Reduce stress
