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Angina is chest pain or discomfort caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle. It may feel like pressure or a squeezing pain in your chest, or like an upset stomach. Some people also feel pain in their shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back.
Angina is a symptom of an underlying heart issue, most often coronary artery disease (CAD), which is the most common of all heart diseases. It occurs when a sticky substance called plaque accumulates in the arteries that deliver blood to the heart. The plaque buildup reduces your blood flow.
Angina isn't always a precursor to a heart attack, but it can be. It’s a critical warning sign of an underlying heart problem. It should always be evaluated by an experienced, board-certified cardiologist, like the experts at Advanced Heart Care Associates in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada. In severe cases, however, angina requires a trip to the emergency room.
What is angina?
Angina is a type of chest pain caused when fatty deposits in your arteries clump together, forming plaques that narrow the affected artery (or arteries) and decrease blood flow to your heart.
The three most common types of angina are:
Stable angina
Stable angina is typically triggered by climbing stairs, walking, and other forms of physical exertion. This increases the demand for blood flow to your heart. Emotional stress, exposure to cold temperatures, and heavy meals can also trigger angina.
Physicians usually characterize your angina as stable when it responds to rest and/or nitrate medication, most commonly nitroglycerin tablets that dissolve under your tongue. Nitroglycerin widens and relaxes blood vessels quickly, increasing blood flow to your heart.
Unstable angina
Unstable angina isn’t relieved with rest or nitrates. It occurs when plaques in an artery rupture or when a blood clot forms, narrowing or blocking the artery. This severely decreases oxygen-rich blood flow to your heart, which it needs to continue functioning.
A heart attack occurs if the blood flow doesn’t improve. Unstable angina is dangerous and requires emergency medical treatment.
Prinzmetal's (variant) angina
Caused by a spasm in a coronary artery that makes the artery narrow temporarily, Prinzmetal’s angina is often triggered by emotional stress or smoking. Cocaine use is also a known trigger of this type of angina. Variant angina usually causes severe chest pain that occurs at rest and may be relieved with medication for angina.
What are the symptoms of angina?
Angina symptoms include chest pain that’s often described as a squeezing or burning discomfort or the sensation that something heavy is sitting on your chest.
Other symptoms include:
- Pain traveling into your arms, neck, or jaw
- Chest pain accompanied by shoulder or back pain
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
- Unexplained sweating
- Dizziness
Women often develop abdominal pain as well and describe their chest pain as more stabbing than pressure-like.
When should I see a cardiologist for angina?
Chest discomfort or pain can signal a serious heart problem, including the risk of a future heart attack, and requires evaluation if it’s a new symptom. Early diagnosis and treatment often provide the best outcomes for any form of heart disease, including CAD.
Because angina symptoms mimic so many other conditions, only a thorough evaluation by your cardiologist can determine whether your symptoms are related to your heart or caused by conditions such as a hiatal hernia, indigestion, or other noncardiac issues.
When you’ve been diagnosed with stable angina in the past but notice worsening symptoms or develop angina that doesn’t respond to rest and medication, you could be experiencing a heart attack and require immediate/emergency medical attention.
If you’re experiencing angina, schedule a visit today with one of our highly qualified cardiac experts at Advanced Heart Care Associates. Call us at 725-777-2346 or request a consultation via the online booking tool.