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What are the symptoms of angina?

Signs and symptoms of angina include breathlessness, pain radiating to the neck, jaw, back, shoulders or arms, as well as a feeling of tightness, pressure and pain or discomfort in the chest.

FAQ Frequently asked questions

What is angina?

Angina is the pain felt in the chest as a result of poor blood flow to the heart muscle. This leads to the heart muscle cells becoming starved for oxygen.

What causes angina?

Angina is caused by the narrowing of the coronary arteries and the resulting reduction in blood supply, and therefore oxygen supply, to the heart muscle. The lack of oxygen causes stress to the heart muscle cells, which results in pain (angina). It is often caused by …

Who gets angina?

Anyone can get angina. However, the risk is greater if you smoke, have existing heart disease, high blood pressure, high blood fats and cholesterol, diabetes and/or a family history of heart disease.

Are there different types of angina?

Stable angina is usually caused by physical exertion, as your heart works harder to move blood through narrow arteries to meet oxygen demand. Unstable angina is less predictable and less responsive to treatment, tends to occur more often in the …

How is angina diagnosed?

Angina is diagnosed with a thorough medical history and examination, and electrocardiogram (ECG). Stress testing is sometimes performed to assist with diagnosis and assessing prognosis. Blood tests, chest X-ray and a coronary angiogram may also be used to check for …

How is angina treated?

How angina is treated depends on the type of angina you have. In general, a combination of surgery and medications is used. Surgery includes the use of stents in blood vessels or bypass surgery to treat obstructions, and medications such as blood-thinning …

Can angina be prevented?

You can reduce your risk of developing angina by not smoking, by exercising and by maintaining a healthy weight. You should avoid stressful situations and take your medication as prescribed by your doctor.

Is angina serious?

If untreated, angina increases your risk of heart attack.

What increases the chances of developing angina?

Smoking, diabetes, obesity, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol all increase your chances of developing angina.

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About this article

Author: Jonathan Meddings BMedLabSc (Hons)
First answered: 23 Sep 2014
Last reviewed: 19 May 2018
Rating: 5.0 out of 5
Votes: 1560 (Click smiley face below to rate)
Category: Chest pain

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