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Angina is not a "heart attack” It is chest pain resulting from inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle. The heart muscle is supplied with blood via the coronary arteries. If these arteries become narrowed blood supply is reduced meaning that the heart muscle receives less oxygen than it needs to function correctly.
Angina is not a “heart attack” It is chest pain resulting from inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle.
The heart muscle is supplied with blood via the coronary arteries. If these arteries become narrowed blood supply is reduced meaning that the heart muscle receives less oxygen than it needs to function correctly.
This narrowing, also known as “occlusion” of the coronary arteries in angina sufferers is typically a consequence of “atherosclerosis” (a build up of fatty plague in the artery walls).
Angina is often a warning sign of an impending heart attack. The severity of the heart attack depends on how much heart muscle (myocardial cells) are damaged or killed as a result of the occlusion.
Middle-aged, overweight male smokers are most at risk of angina.
The symptoms of angina include:
- Pain, discomfort or a feeling of “tightness” or pressure in the middle of the chest possibly accompanied by breathlessness and sweating
- Radiating pain to the neck, jaw and either arm – usually the left and sometimes upper back
Angina attacks can be prompted by physical exercise and/or psychological stress bout of which elevate the heart rate increasing the heart muscles need for oxygen. When this can’t be met an angina attack may ensue.
Angina is usually triggered by exertion and stops once the person rests for a few minutes. “Unstable” angina is characterised by unpredictable attacks, even when the person is not being active, indicating that the coronary arteries are dangerously narrowed greatly increasing the risk of an imminent heart attack.
Angina is a “degenerative disease”. Fatty plaque deposits build up on the walls over time narrowing the coronary arteries. This known as “atherosclerosis”. These plaque formation is caused by a variety of factors including:
- A diet high in saturated fats
- High blood pressure
- Cigarette smoking
- Insufficient exercise
- Obesity
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Genetic factors, or an inherited susceptibility.
The treatment of the ailment depends on the severity of the condition and may include various medications:
- Aspirin – taken on a daily basis to help manage the condition and reduce the risk of blood clots.
- Nitrates – drugs called nitrates can ease the pain of an angina attack. They can be taken as an aerosol pump spray or a tablet dissolved under the tongue.
- Drugs known as statins to lower the cholesterol levels in the blood.
- Drugs to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate (beta blockers) – which reduces how hard the heart must work.
Other treatment modalities include:
- Lifestyle changes – quitting smoking, losing excess body fat, consuming a low fat diet and exercising regularly (such as daily walking).
- Surgery – procedures such as angioplasty and bypass surgery are used in advanced cases of angina or if it doesn’t respond to drugs and lifestyle changes.
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