What
is Angina?
If
the coronary arteries (surrounding the heart) are severely, but not completely
clogged with plaque, the heart muscle may be temporarily starved of oxygen.
This lack of oxygen in the heart tissue causes severe chest pain called
angina.
What
are the symptoms of Angina?
Angina
is a symptom of cardiovascular disease, and is most often a pain or
discomfort that occurs just under the breastbone (located in the center
of your chest).
The
pain often spreads to the left shoulder, down the arm, to the back,
or even up the neck to the jaw.
Angina
attacks usually last three to five minutes and are almost always relieved
by rest. They may occur
several times a day, or infrequently
with weeks or months between attacks.
 What
are causes?
The
most common cause of angina is atherosclerosis, a cardiovascular disease
in which fatty materials in the blood form sticky plaques in the arteries.
These plaques can get larger and larger, clogging the arteries and
damaging the arterial wall. The blockage of the coronary arteries slows
the blood flowing to the heart muscle.
Relieving
your Angina symptoms
-
Quit smoking
- Talk
with your physician about a smoking cessation
program that is right for you.
- Eat
healthy
- Eat
a diet low in cholesterol and fat, and maintain an ideal weight.
- Medication
- Take
your angina medication as prescribed
by your doctor.
- Physical
activity
- Talk
to your physician about starting a regular exercise program.
- Calm
down
- Learn
to relax and
manage stressful situations.
Types
of Angina
-
Chronic stable angina
- Caused
by a temporary decrease in blood flow to the heart, stable
angina is triggered by physical activity
or strong emotions and is usually relieved by rest.
- Unstable
angina
- Variant
angina
- A
type of angina that is due to a spasm in a coronary artery rather
than plaque build-up. This type of angina is also called as "Prinzmetal
angina"
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