Angina |
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Angina literally means "choking pain," and
angina pectoris refers to a painful or uncomfortable sensation in the
chest that occurs when part of the heart does not receive enough oxygen
due to disease in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart.
The coronary arteries supply the heart muscle with oxygen and nutrients.
The word "coronary" means a crown and is the name given to
the arteries that circle the heart like a crown. Angina is the body's
warning sign that the heart is being overworked. It can be experienced
in a variety of ways: |
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Angina usually manifests as a feeling of pain, pressure,
or tightness in the middle chest, especially behind the sternum
(breastbone). |
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The sensation may spread to the left shoulder, arm, and hand,
or to the neck, throat, and jaw. |
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The attack typically lasts for only a few minutes An
attack of angina does not cause permanent damage to the heart muscle.
This is the main difference between angina and a heart attack, during
which part of the heart muscle suffers permanent damage, unless the
new clot-busting drugs are given in time. Angina may occur during
everyday activities such as: |
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Rapid walking or running |
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Lifting or carrying a weight |
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Becoming angry or excited |
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Shoveling snow |
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Physical stress after eating, whilst food is still being digested |
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Sexual intercourse (rarely) |
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Stable and unstable angina |
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Stable angina usually occurs during physical exertion
or emotional stress or excitement. Stable angina doesn't lead to a
heart attack in most people. |
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Unstable angina can
occur during rest, can awaken a person from sleep, and can appear suddenly
during physical exertion. Unstable angina may quickly progress to a
heart attack |
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Peter Scott - Team Leader
