Angina

Overview

Angina is a type of chest pain caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart. With pressure or squeezing in your chest, it can feel like you're having a heart attack. It's also known as angina pectoris or ischemic chest pain.

Angina is common, but it can be difficult to distinguish from other types of chest pain, such as indigestion discomfort. Seek medical attention immediately if you are experiencing unexplained chest pain.

Symptoms of Angina:

Symptoms of angina include chest pain and discomfort, which may be described as pressure, squeezing, burning, or fullness. Angina signs and symptoms may vary from person to person. Some of the common symptoms of Angina include:-

• Pain in your arms, neck, jaw, shoulder or back.
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Breathing difficulty
• Sweating

Causes of Angina

Angina is caused by a decrease in blood flow to the heart muscle. Your blood carries oxygen to your heart muscle, which it requires to survive. Ischemia is a condition that occurs when your heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common cause of decreased blood flow to your heart muscle (CAD). Plaques, which are fatty deposits, can narrow your heart (coronary) arteries. This is known as atherosclerosis.

When to consult a doctor?

If your chest pain lasts more than a few minutes and does not go away when you rest or take your angina medications, it could be an indication of a heart attack. Please contact the nearest hospital for assistance.

If you experience any of such symptoms, you should not ignore them considering a gastric problem and seek medical attention without wasting time. It becomes even more urgent to see a doctor if elderly, diabetic, hypertensive, or people who smoke, consume excessive alcohol, or patients with uncontrolled cholesterol level develops such symptoms.