It can feel like pressure, squeezing, or pain in the chest.
Angina can be stable, occurring chronically in people withcoronary blockages, particularly during exercise or exertion.
New or worsening angina is considered unstable angina and can progress to a heart attack.
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This article will discuss angina and its types, causes, diagnosis, and management.
Catherine McQueen / Getty Images
What Is Angina?
The heart is a constantly working muscle that requires a great deal of oxygen and energy to function.
Blood is supplied to the heart by the coronary arteries.
Types of Angina
Angina is classified as eitherstable or unstable.
Stable angina is chronic chest pain that occurs with exertion and reliably improves with rest.
Other triggers include eating a heavy meal or extremes of temperature.
However, a blockage in the coronary arteries limits the amount of blood supply to the heart.
Unstable angina is considered a key in of acute coronary syndrome.
Angina can also be classified according to its causes.
Other types of angina are:
Angina Symptoms
Most people associatechest painwith blockages in the heart.
However, people with angina may not ever have pain.
They may instead describe a tightness, pressure, or squeezing sensation that isn’t necessarily painful.
The discomfort can radiate up to the neck, arms, upper abdomen, back, or jaw.
Shortness of breath is another common symptom.
This can be achieved through stenting or surgery.
Stentingis performed during a procedure called coronary angioplasty to open blocked coronary arteries.
In certain cases, surgery is preferred.
This is done withcoronary artery bypass grafting(CABG).
What Causes Angina?
Angina is because of anything that impedes blood flow to the heart muscle.
Most commonly this is from atherosclerosis, or cholesterol plaques.
So its important to receive a proper diagnosis.
This can be life-threatening.
Additionally, atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries means that arteries in other parts of the body are likely affected.
Summary
Angina is a serious condition related to impaired blood flow to the heart causing chest discomfort.
The primary cause is atherosclerosis or cholesterol plaques in the coronary arteries.
Treatment goals include managing symptoms and reducing risk of cardiovascular events.
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