Angina

Key Points

Overview

Angina is a type of chest pain or discomfort that happens when your heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood. It can feel like squeezing, pressure, or a dull ache in your chest, and may spread to your neck, shoulders, jaw, or arms. These episodes are often called angina attacks. The most common cause of angina is coronary heart disease, where the blood vessels supplying your heart become narrowed or blocked by fatty deposits. Less commonly, it can be due to blood vessels in the heart tightening inappropriately. Angina attacks typically last less than 10 minutes and usually stop after resting or taking prescribed medicine. If you experience symptoms of angina, it's important to see a doctor promptly. Managing angina involves medication, lifestyle changes, and sometimes surgical procedures to improve blood flow to the heart. Proper treatment helps reduce symptoms and lower the risk of more serious heart events like a heart attack.

Signs and Symptoms

• Sudden pain in chest, neck, shoulders, jaw, or arms
• Feeling of tightness, squeezing, or pressure
• Dull ache
• Feeling sick
• Breathlessness
• Dizziness
• Sweating
• Pain often brought on by exercise, stress, or cold

Things That Increase the Risk

• Being a man aged 45 or over, or a woman aged 55 or over
• Drinking more than 14 units of alcohol weekly
• Being overweight or living with obesity
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Previous heart problems like a heart attack or arrhythmia
• Close relatives with heart problems
• Conditions like diabetes, arthritis, or kidney disease

Diagnosis

• GP referral to a heart specialist (cardiologist)
• Blood tests
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) to check heart's electrical activity
• Checking oxygen levels in blood
• Scans such as an angiogram, MRI, or CT scan

Treatment & Management

• Stopping activity and resting during an attack
• Taking prescribed glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) for attacks
• Beta blockers to help prevent attacks
• Low-dose aspirin or statins to reduce heart attack/stroke risk
• Coronary angioplasty to widen narrowed arteries
• Coronary artery bypass surgery to improve blood flow

Prevention

• Avoid known triggers like stress, cold, or large meals
• Always carry your angina medicine
• Quit smoking
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Eat a balanced diet
• Stay as active as your symptoms allow
• Reduce alcohol intake if you drink more than 14 units a week

Related Diseases

• Coronary Heart Disease
• Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Arrhythmia
• High Blood Pressure
• High Cholesterol
• Diabetes

Available Treatments

Explore our range of treatment options for Angina:

Surgical Options

Learn about surgical procedures available for Angina: