What Are Angina Heart Symptoms?

Angina heart symptoms are severe and crushing pains in the chest, just behind the breastbone (the sternum).

There is also normally a feeling of pressure and suffocation.

An angina symptom was originally described as “Angina Pectus” by the English physician William Heberden who conducted in depth research and provided the original angina information in 1772.

Angina Pectus literally means “Choking or Throttling of the chest”.

The cause of Angina is reduced blood flow to the heart due to narrowing of your arteries.

Stable angina symptoms occur in a predictable pattern, normally when your heart requires more blood and oxygen such as during exertion or emotional stress.

Unstable angina is unpredictable and can occur at rest. This pain is normally more severe and lasts longer than Stable Angina Pain. From personal experience, random, unpredictable chest pain is very frightening and makes angina pain management difficult.

Although severe chest pain is a symptom of a heart attack and an angina symptom, they are completely different.

The cause of angina is restricted blood flow to your heart due to the gradual narrowing of your arteries caused by heart disease. It is not normally life threatening

The normal cause of a heart attack is due to a blood clot blocking one of your arteries and cutting off all or most of the blood supply to your heart.

If a blocked artery isn't treated quickly then your heart muscle begins to die.

The immediate Angina pain can often be relieved by taking Glyceryl Trinitrate (GTN) either in the form of a spray or a tablet that is placed under your tongue.

Nitrates (tablets or patches) can also be used daily in a long-acting form and are very effective in reducing angina heart symptoms.

Stable angina can be diagnosed by analysing symptoms and using tests to determine the extent of heart disease It is most commonly treated with lifestyle changes and medication. However if you do not improve with medicine, or if you have severe angina and heart disease, you may require angioplasty or bypass surgery.

Although more women than men suffer from stable angina they often suffer from atypical symptoms such as feeling pain in their jaw, neck, or throat and between their shoulders or in the middle of their back.

Unless you have been diagosed as having Angina, you must presume that any symptoms are a heart attack and get medical attention imediately.

It’s Your Heart. It’s Your Life.

It’s Your Choice.

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