Angina

Overview

Angina, often referred to as angina pectoris, is uncomfortable chest pain or pressure you might feel when your heart isn't getting enough blood. It may feel like some heavy object is lying on your chest. It's frequently a sign of coronary artery disease (CAD), which happens when the arteries supplying blood to your heart become narrowed or blocked. If you have unexplained chest pain, see your doctor right away. 

Signs and Symptoms

You might feel some signs and symptoms of angina including:

• Chest Pain: Pressure, squeezing, heaviness, or tightness in the chest, often behind the breastbone.
• Pain Radiating: Discomfort that may spread to the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back.
• Shortness of Breath: Feeling breathless, especially during physical activity or stress.
• Fatigue: Unexplained tiredness or weakness.
• Nausea: Feeling like vomiting, nausea, or light-headedness.
• Sweating: Cold sweats, particularly with chest discomfort.

Types

• Stable Angina: This is the predictable chest pain that usually happens during physical activity or emotional stress and tends to go away with rest or medication.
• Unstable Angina: This type of chest pain can strike suddenly and unpredictably, even when you're at rest or doing very little. It could be a warning sign of a heart attack.
• Variant (Prinzmetal's) Angina: This is caused by a spasm in the coronary artery and typically occurs when you're at rest or even while you’re sleeping. 

Diagnosis

Diagnosing angina typically involves:

• Medical History: Your consultant will discuss the symptoms, risk factors, and about any one in family who is suffering from heart disease. 
• Physical Examination: Assessment of vital signs, chest auscultation, and evaluation for signs of heart disease.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG): A Quick and painless test to record your heart's electrical activity, detects any abnormal beats or rhythms, or changes that suggest angina.
• Stress Test: Angina may be easier to diagnose when the heart has to work hard. A stress test involves making you walk on a treadmill while your heart is being checked. Monitoring heart activity during physical exertion helps assess heart function.
• Echocardiogram: Sound waves are used to create images of your heart in action. 
• Coronary Angiography: Injecting dye into the coronary arteries to visualize blood flow and identify blockages via X-ray (angiogram).

Treatment

Medical Treatments: Your cardiologist may advise medications to improve your heart health and relieve symptoms of angina. They may include Nitroglycerin, Beta-Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers, Aspirin and Antiplatelet Medications, and Statins. 

Surgical and Procedures:

If you don't get relief with lifestyle changes or medications, some procedures may be required, including: 

• Angioplasty and Stenting: Using a catheter with a tiny balloon that is inserted into the narrowed arteries of the heart. It is done to open narrowed or blocked coronary arteries, often placing a stent to keep the artery open.
• Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG): It is heart surgery done to create new pathways for blood flow using a healthy blood vessel from another part of the body to bypass blocked arteries.

Lifestyle Changes:

• Healthy Diet: Take diet low in saturated fats, cholesterol, and sodium, high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Regular Exercise: Engage in physical activity as advised by your heart specialist.
• Smoking Cessation: Stop smoking. It is important to reduce the risk of heart disease and improve overall health.

FAQs

Q: What causes angina?

A: Angina is primarily caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscles due to coronary artery disease (CAD) or coronary artery spasm.

Q: Is angina a heart attack?

A: Angina is chest pain or discomfort caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. It can indicate underlying heart disease and may happen before a heart attack, but they are not the same.

Q: Is there a cure for angina?

A: Angina can be managed effectively with lifestyle changes, medications, and, in some cases, surgical interventions. However, it may require continued treatment and monitoring.

Q: Who is at risk for angina?

A: Risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, smoking, diabetes, sedentary lifestyle, and family history of heart disease.

Q: Can I prevent angina?

A: Adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, a healthy diet, managing stress, quitting smoking, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels, can help reduce the risk of developing angina.

Complications

Complications of untreated or poorly managed angina may include heart attack, heart failure, arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), and reduced quality of life.

Prognosis

With proper management, including lifestyle changes, medications, and sometimes procedures, many individuals with angina can lead active lives and reduce the risk of complications.

At Yatharth Hospital, our cardiologists specialize in diagnosing and treating angina. We provide comprehensive care and personalized treatment plans to improve heart health and quality of life. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about our cardiac services.