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Key Points
- Angina is chest pain or discomfort that occurs
when your heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood. Angina is the
symptom of an underlying heart condition, usually
coronary
artery disease (CAD).
- CAD occurs when a fatty material called plaque
builds up on the inner walls of the coronary arteries. Plaque causes the
coronary arteries to become narrow and stiff. The flow of oxygen-rich blood to
the heart muscle is reduced.
- Angina may feel like pressure or a squeezing pain
in your chest. The pain also may occur in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or
back.
- The most common types of angina are stable angina
and unstable angina. A rare type of angina is called variant angina.
- Stable angina occurs when the heart is
working harder than usual. Pain from stable angina goes away when you rest or
take your angina medicine. Angina medicine, such as nitroglycerin, helps widen
and relax the arteries so that more blood can flow to the heart.
- Unstable angina is a very dangerous condition
and needs emergency treatment. Unstable angina is a sign that a
heart
attack may happen soon. Unstable angina can occur with or without physical
exertion. It isn't relieved by rest or medicine.
- Variant angina is caused by a spasm
(tightening) in a coronary artery. This narrowing of the artery slows or stops
blood flow to the heart muscle. The pain may be severe. This type of angina is
relieved by medicine.
- Nearly 7 million people in the United States have
angina. It occurs equally in men and women.
- Because angina is usually a symptom of CAD, its
risk factors are usually the same as
those for CAD.
- Pain and discomfort are the main symptoms of
angina. Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), fatigue (tiredness), shortness
of breath, sweating, light-headedness, or weakness also may occur.
- If you have chest pain, your doctor will want to
find out whether it's angina. To diagnose angina, your doctor will do a
physical exam and ask about your symptoms, risk factors, and family history of
heart disease. He or she also may order tests to confirm the diagnosis.
- Treatments for angina include lifestyle changes,
medicines, medical procedures, and
cardiac
rehabilitation. Lifestyle changes include following a healthy eating plan,
quitting smoking, being physically active, losing weight, and learning how to
handle stress and relax.
- You can prevent or lower your risk for angina and
CAD by making lifestyle changes and treating related conditions.
- If you have angina, it's important to know the
pattern of your angina, what medicines you take (keep a list) and how often you
should take then, how to control your angina, and the limits on your physical
activity. You should know how and when to seek medical help.
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