What is Angina?

Posted: Feb. 1, 2005

Angina, or angina pectoris, refers to symptoms such as chest pain or discomfort caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. Angina is often the first sign of heart disease.

The heart gets blood from the coronary arteries. If one or more of your coronary arteries has a blockage that reduces blood flow to your heart from time to time, you may have angina.

Narrowed and blocked arteries are usually due to a gradual buildup of fatty deposits called plaque inside the arteries; this process is called atherosclerosis.

Signs of angina
People with angina usually feel discomfort (often a pressure-like pain) in or around the chest, shoulders, jaw, neck, back or arms. It may feel like a squeezing, pressing sensation in the chest.

Angina pain is usually caused and made worse by exercise and eased by rest. The pain usually lasts 2 to 5 minutes. If you have this kind of chest pain, you should contact your health provider. There is medicine available that will help your angina.

Not all chest discomfort is angina. For example, acid reflux (heartburn) and lung infection or inflammation can cause chest pain.

Does angina mean I'm having a heart attack?
Not necessarily. An episode of angina is not a heart attack, but it does mean that you have a greater chance of having a heart attack. Angina pain means that some of the heart muscle is not getting enough blood temporarily.

A heart attack, on the other hand, occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart is suddenly and permanently cut off, usually by a blood clot. This can lead to serious heart damage.

If you think you might be having a heart attack, call or have someone else call 911.

How is angina treated?
Lifestyle changes and medicine are the most common ways to control most cases of angina. Although angina may be brought on by exercise, this does not mean that you should stop exercising. In fact, you should keep doing an exercise program that has been approved by your health provider.

By eating healthfully, not smoking, limiting how much alcohol you drink, and avoiding stress, you may live more comfortably and with fewer angina attacks. You may need medicine to help lower your blood pressure or your cholesterol.

Drugs are often used to control angina. The most commonly used drug is nitroglycerin, which relieves pain by relaxing blood vessels. This allows more blood to flow to the heart muscle and also decreases the workload of the heart. Nitroglycerin is taken when discomfort occurs or is expected.

Other drugs may be taken every day to help reduce the heart's workload. Two types of drugs often used are called beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers.

Source: Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services

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