Angina is chest pain or discomfort you get when your heart muscle does not get enough blood. It may feel like pressure or a squeezing pain in your chest. It may feel like indigestion. You may also feel pain in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back.
Angina is a symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common heart disease. CAD happens when a sticky substance called plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart, reducing blood flow.
There are three types of angina: stable, unstable and variant. Unstable angina is the most dangerous. It does not follow a pattern and can happen without physical exertion. It is does not go away with rest or medicine. It is a sign that you could have a heart attack soon.
Not all chest pain or discomfort is angina. If you have chest pain, you should see your health care provider.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
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Date last updated: 07 January 2009 Topic last reviewed: 21 August 2008 |