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Angina Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment
The American Heart Association (AHA) defines angina as "a medical term for chest pain or discomfort due to coronary heart disease." The AHA estimates that over 6.8 million Americans experience angina symptoms. Angina is a painful condition indicating the presence of coronary artery disease, and increasing the risk of heart attack and heart failure.

Causes of Angina
Angina, or angina pectoris, is caused by myocardial ischemia: restricted blood flow to the heart. Reduced blood flow lowers the amount of oxygen available to the heart, resulting in chest pain and other angina symptoms.

Atherosclerosis is usually to blame for myocardial ischemia. Atherosclerosis occurs when fat and cholesterol plaques build up in the coronary arteries and obstruct blood flow to the heart.

Classic Angina Symptoms
Low blood flow to the heart results in chest pain, the most common angina symptom. Chest pain is severe, and patients often describe it as "crushing," or as if a fist had clenched the heart. People who suffer from angina symptoms usually have chest pain with physical exertion or during emotional stress. Anger is a classic angina trigger.

Read on to learn more about angina symptoms.
 
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In This Site...
Angina Symptoms, Diagnosis and TreatmentExplains how low blood flow causes angina symptoms, and discusses how angina increases the chance of heart attack or heart failure.
Read Article >>

Types of Angina: From Syndrome X to the Silent VarietyDiscusses variant angina, Syndrome X, and other forms of angina that may be unrelated to atherosclerosis, cause dyspnea, or present with normal angiography.
Read Article >>

Differentiating Between Stable and Unstable AnginaDiscusses how chest pain is relieved with nitroglycerine tablets, and explains the difference between stable and unstable angina
Read Article >>
Further Reading...


Symptoms of Angina
Chest pain and discomfort are the most common angina symptoms. Low blood flow is the cause of most symptoms of angina.

Diagnosing Angina
To make an angina diagnosis, your doctor may perform an EKG or an ultrasound. Effective treatment relies on an early diagnosis of angina.

 
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