What Is Angina?

Angina is characterized by chest pain caused by a lack of blood flow to a portion of your heart. With pressure or squeezing in your chest, it may feel like you’re having a heart attack. It’s also known as angina pectoris or ischemic chest pain. It is a symptom of heart disease and occurs when your arteries are blocked or there is insufficient blood flow in the arteries that bring oxygen-rich blood to your heart. Despite the fact that angina is rather common, it can be difficult to identify from other types of chest pain, such as indigestion pain. Angina usually subsides quickly. It can, however, be a sign of a potentially fatal heart condition. It is critical to learn what is going on and what you can do to avoid a heart attack.

Types of Angina

Stable Angina

This is the most typical. It can be triggered by physical activity or stress. It usually only lasts a few minutes and disappears when you rest. It isn’t a heart attack, but it can be a warning sign that you’re on the verge of one. If this happens to you, notify your doctor.

Unstable Angina

This occurs while you are at rest or are not particularly active. The pain can be intense and linger for a long time, and it may recur. It could be an indication that you’re having a heart attack, so it’s important that you seek medical help immediately.

Microvascular Angina

This type causes chest pain but no coronary artery blockage. Instead, it happens because your smallest coronary arteries aren’t working properly, and your heart isn’t getting enough blood. The pain in the chest usually lasts longer than ten minutes and it’s usually common in women.

Prinzmetal’s Angina

This type is uncommon and can occur in the middle of the night while you’re asleep or resting. The arteries in your heart tend to suddenly tighten or narrow. You should address it because it can cause a lot of pain.

What Are the Symptoms of Angina?

Symptoms of angina include chest pain and discomfort, which may be described as pressure, squeezing, burning, or fullness. You may also experience discomfort in your arms, neck, jaw, shoulder, or back. Other symptoms of angina may include the following:

• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Breathing difficulty
• Sweating

Angina in Women

Angina symptoms in women can differ from angina symptoms in men. These differences may result in a delay in seeking treatment. While chest discomfort is a typical sign of angina in women, it isn’t usually the sole or most common symptom. Symptoms that women may experience include:

• Nausea
• Breathing difficulty
• Pain in the abdomen
• Pain in the neck, jaw, or back
• Instead of chest pressure, there is stabbing pain

What Causes Angina?

Angina is usually caused by a heart condition. Plaque, a fatty substance, accumulates in your arteries, obstructing blood flow to your heart muscle. As a result, your heart must work with less oxygen. This causes discomfort. You may also have blood clots in your heart’s arteries, which can lead to a heart attack. The following are some of the less common causes of chest pain:

• A clog in a major artery leading to your lungs (pulmonary embolism)
• A heart that is enlarged or thickened (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)
• A valve in the main chamber of your heart narrows (aortic stenosis)
• Tears in the wall of your aorta, your body’s largest artery (aortic dissection)
• Swelling of the sac around the heart (pericarditis)

Risk Factors of Angina

The following risk factors raise your chances of developing coronary artery disease and angina:

Tobacco Consumption

Tobacco chewing, smoking, and long-term secondhand smoke exposure damage the interior walls of arteries, including arteries to the heart, allowing cholesterol deposits to accumulate and block blood flow.

High Levels of Cholesterol or Triglycerides in the Blood

Cholesterol contributes significantly to the deposits that can narrow arteries throughout your body, including those that supply your heart. A high level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also referred to as “bad” cholesterol, increases your risk of angina and heart attacks. A high level of triglycerides, a type of blood fat associated with your diet, is also harmful.

Diabetes

Diabetes raises the risk of coronary artery disease, which causes angina and heart attacks by exacerbating atherosclerosis and raising cholesterol levels.

Lack of Physical Activity

A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. However, before beginning an exercise program, consult with your doctor.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure damages arteries over time by triggering artery hardening.

Obesity

Obesity is associated with high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and diabetes, all of which increase your risk of angina and heart disease. When you’re overweight, your heart has to work harder to deliver blood to your body.

Stress

Stress exacerbates angina and heart attacks. Excessive stress and anger can both raise your blood pressure. Hormone surges caused by stress can narrow your arteries and worsen angina.

How to Diagnose Angina

Your doctor will perform a physical examination and inquire about your symptoms, risk factors, and family history. The following tests will be conducted to determine your condition:

• EKG: his test measures the electrical activity and rhythm of your heart.
• The stress test: This monitors how your heart works while you exercise.
• Blood Test: Troponin proteins will be examined by your doctor. When your heart muscle is damaged, such as during a heart attack, a large number of them are released. More broad tests, such as a metabolic panel or a complete blood count, may be ordered by your doctor (CBC).
• Imaging Test: Chest X-rays can rule out other causes of your chest pain, such as lung conditions. Echocardiograms, CT scans, and MRI scans can generate images of your heart to assist your doctor in detecting problems.

Lifestyle Remedies for Angina

You can help prevent angina by adopting the same lifestyle changes that may alleviate your symptoms if you already have angina. Among them are:

• Smoking cessation
• Other medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, must be monitored and controlled.
• Lowering your stress level
• Limiting your alcohol consumption for men; to two drinks or less per day is enough, and women’s alcohol consumption to one drink or less per day.
• Maintaining a healthy weight and eating a healthy diet.
• Getting a flu shot every year to avoid heart complications caused by the virus.
• Increasing your physical activity after receiving approval from your doctor.

How to Treat Angina

Medications, angioplasty and stenting, and coronary bypass surgery are all alternatives for treating angina. The goals of treatment are to reduce the frequency and severity of your symptoms, as well as your risk of having a heart attack and dying. However, if you have unstable angina or angina pain that is different from what you’re used to, such as when you’re at rest, you should seek immediate medical attention.

Medications for Angina

If lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough to alleviate your angina, you may need to take medication. These could include:

• Nitrates: Angina is frequently treated with nitrates. Nitrates relax and widen blood vessels, allowing more blood to flow to the heart muscle.
• Aspirin: Aspirin reduces the ability of your blood to clot, allowing blood to flow more easily through narrowed heart arteries.
• Statins: Statins are medications that are used to lower blood cholesterol levels. They work by preventing your body from producing a substance required for cholesterol production.

Now that you Know…

Angina increases your chances of having a heart attack. You can still be active, but you must pay attention to your body. Stop what you’re doing and rest if you’re in pain. Understand what causes your angina, such as stress or strenuous exercise. Try to stay away from things that tend to set it off. For example, if large meals cause discomfort, eat smaller ones more frequently. Ensure to consult your doctor if you experience any changes because most time angina can be a sign of something life-threatening.