What is Angina? What Causes Angina?

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Main Category: Heart Disease
Also Included In: Pain / Anesthetics;  Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 08 Jun 2009 - 19:00 PST

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Angina - or angina pectoris (Latin for squeezing of the chest) - is chest pain, discomfort, or tightness that occurs when an area of the heart muscle is receiving decreased blood oxygen supply. It is not a disease itself, but rather a symptom of coronary artery disease, the most common type of heart disease. The lack of oxygen rich blood to the heart is usually a result of narrower coronary arteries due to plaque buildup, a condition called atherosclerosis. Narrow arteries increase the risk of pain, coronary artery disease, heart attack, and death.

Angina may manifest itself in the form of an angina attack, pain or discomfort in the chest that typically lasts from 1 to 15 minutes. The condition is classified by the pattern of attacks into stable, unstable, and variant angina.

• Stable (or chronic) angina is brought on when the heart is working harder than usual, such as during exercise. It has a regular pattern and can be predicted to happen over months or even years. Symptoms are relieved by rest or medication.


• Unstable angina does not follow a regular pattern. It can occur when at rest and is considered less common and more serious as it is not relieved by rest or medicine. This version can signal a future heart attack within a short time - hours or weeks.


• Variant (Prinzmetal's) angina and microvascular (smallest vessels) angina are rare and can occur at rest without any underlying coronary artery disease. This angina is usually due to abnormal narrowing or relaxation (spasm) of the blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the heart. It is relieved by medicine.

Who gets angina?

Those at an increased risk of coronary artery disease are also at an increased risk of angina. Risk factors include:

• Unhealthy cholesterol levels
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Tobacco smoking
• Diabetes
• Being overweight or obese
• Metabolic syndrome
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Being over 45 for men and over 55 for women
• Family history of early heart disease

What causes angina?

Angina is most frequently the result of underlying coronary artery disease. The coronary arteries supply the heart with oxygen rich blood. When cholesterol aggregates on the artery wall and hard plaques form, the artery narrows. It is increasingly difficult for oxygen rich blood to reach the heart muscle as these arteries become too narrow. In addition, damage to the arteries from other factors (such as smoking and high levels of fat or sugar in the blood) can cause plaque to build up where the arteries are damaged. These plaques narrow the arteries or may break off and form blood clots that block the arteries.

The actual angina attacks are the result of this reduced oxygen supply to the heart. Physical exertion is a common trigger for stable angina, as the heart demands more oxygen than it receives in order to work harder. In addition, severe emotional stress, a heavy meal, exposure to extreme temperatures, and smoking may trigger angina attacks.

Unstable angina is often caused by blood clots that partially or totally block an artery. Larger blockages may lead to heart attacks. As blood clots form, dissolve, and form again, angina can occur with each blockage.

Variant angina occurs when an artery experiences a spasm that causes it to tighten and narrow, disrupting blood supply to the heart. This can be triggered by exposure to cold, stress, medicines, smoking, or cocaine use.

What are the symptoms of angina?

Angina is usually felt as a squeezing, pressure, heaviness, tightening, squeezing, burning or aching across the chest, usually starting behind the breastbone. This pain often spreads to the neck, jaw, arms, shoulders, throat, back, or even the teeth.

Patients may also complain of symptoms that include indigestion, heartburn, weakness, sweating, nausea, cramping, and shortness of breath.

Stable angina usually is unsurprising, lasts a short period of time, and may feel like gas or indigestion. Unstable angina occurs at rest, is surprising, last longer, and may worsen over time. Variant angina occurs at rest and is usually severe.

How is angina diagnosed?

A correct diagnosis for chest pain is important because it can predict your likelihood of having a heart attack. The process will start with a physical exam as well as a discussion of symptoms, risk factors, and family medical history. A physician who is suspicious of angina will order one or more of the following tests:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG) - records electrical activity of the heart and can detect when the heart is starved for oxygen


• Stress test - blood pressure readings and an EKG while the patient is increasing physical activity


• Chest X-ray - to see structures inside the chest


• Coronary angiography - dye and special X-rays to show the inside of coronary arteries (dye is inserted using cardiac catheterization)


• Blood tests - to check levels of fats, cholesterol, sugar, and proteins

How is angina treated?

Angina treatments aim to reduce pain, prevent symptoms, and prevent or lower the risk of heart attack. Medicines, lifestyle changes, and medical procedures may all be employed depending on the type of angina and the severity of symptoms.

Lifestyle changes recommended to treat angina include:

• Stopping smoking
• Controlling weight
• Regularly checking cholesterol levels
• Resting and slowing down
• Avoiding large meals
• Learning how to handle or avoid stress
• Eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or no-fat diary products, and lean meat and fish

Medicines called nitrates (like nitroglycerin) are most often prescribed for angina. Nitrates prevent or reduce the intensity of angina attacks by relaxing and widening blood vessels. Other medicines such as beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, oral anti-platelet medicines, anticoagulants, and high blood pressure medications may also be prescribed to treat angina. These medicines are designed to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, slow the heart rate, relax blood vessels, reduce strain on the heart, and prevent blood clots from forming.

In some cases, surgical medical procedures are necessary to treat angina. A heart specialist may recommend an angioplasty - a procedure where a small balloon is used to widen the narrowed arteries in the heart. Coronary artery bypass grafting is another common procedure; this is surgery where the narrowed arteries in the heart are bypassed using a healthy artery or vein from another part of the body.

How can angina be prevented?

Angina can be prevented by changing lifestyle factors and by treating related conditions that exacerbate or contribute to angina symptoms. To prevent or delay angina, eat healthfully, quit smoking, be physically active, and learn how to handle stress. In addition, make sure to receive proper treatment for high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.

Video: What is Angina

Written by Peter Crosta

Original article date: 30 May 2004
Article updated: 08 June 2009

Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today