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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.

Angina symptoms resemble those of a heart attack. However, angina symptoms usually last only one to five minutes, while chest pain from a heart attack may last for hours. Angina symptoms normally diminish after resting or taking angina medications. Heart attack symptoms do not improve with rest, and angina medication will not reduce heart attack chest pain. If your angina symptoms persist for longer than a few minutes, or are not relieved by resting, you may be having a heart attack and you should seek immediate emergency heart attack treatment.

In addition to chest pain, angina symptoms may include:

a "burning" feeling in the chest
a heavy feeling in the chest
anxiety
chest pain that radiates to the jaw, back, or shoulders
indigestion
nausea
numb or tingling fingers
shortness of breath
sweating.

Angina Complications: Heart attack, Heart Failure and Arrhythmia

Angina is painful, but not usually life threatening. However, angina symptoms indicate the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Without treatment CAD progresses, further damaging the heart and causing a number of complications. Angina symptoms increase the risk of developing:

heart attack
heart failure
stroke
arrhythmias.

American Heart Association Angina Statistics

The American Heart Association's 2004 update on heart and stroke statistics reports that 6.8 million Americans live with angina symptoms. Although heart problems are typically considered a male disease, women account for 4.2 million cases of angina, compared to 2.6 million cases in men.

The AHA also notes that ethnicity affects angina rates. African-Americans and Mexican-Americans are more likely to develop angina than Caucasians. Whether this discrepancy is due to genetics or cultural lifestyle differences is not yet clear.

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Posted by Gloria

September 24, 2008 at 10:13 AM

My husband has been having pain that begins in his jaw, radiates down to chest and arms. He does not get it often, but when it happens, it immobolizes him because the pain is high. Then after about 20 minutes in subsized. He does have high cholesterol. He had treadmill heart test done and that was fine. Should he still get examined for Angina?

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Posted by Rodney

October 23, 2008 at 08:26 AM

Gloria, At 39 I had a stress test during a routine physical and the doc told me I was in great shape. Six months later (when we found out that my little sister, age 29, had to go on a waiting list for a heart transplant) my doc suggested that I see a cardiologist. The cardiologist suggested a stress echocardiogram (or stress echo) shere they perform an ultrasound as part of the stress test. It showed signs of a problem. They followed that with a heart cath and found that I had one 99% blockage and three 90% blockages. The cardiologist told me that the stress test alone (really) only tells them if you are having / or have had a heart attack. Good luck getting to the bottom of it. Rod ...p.s. they opened up my blackages with stents and started me on several meds and I'm doing great now.

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Posted by lisa

October 07, 2008 at 10:31 AM

My husband is going through the same thing these last few days. Is your husband feeling better? My husband is scheduled for a stress test and ultrasound of his chest and neck next week, but I have already told the doctor about these symptoms.

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Posted by tess

September 15, 2008 at 09:33 AM

Just this morning I had that "feeling" in the chest... and it did go into my left jaw. As usual, a drink of water made it cease. It has come without warning, without exertion... and usually in bed. If I don't get it, it persists and that's not a good feeling.
One Dr a week ago tried to tell me I have Acid Reflux but whatever this is, it's not often enough to take medication but it definitely is noteable.

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