Angina is a discomfort or pain in the chest caused by a lack of oxygen-rich blood reaching the heart muscle cells. Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of angina. When blood flow to your heart is limited, it causes pain or discomfort. The syndrome usually arises due to physical activity and is cured by rest. Symptoms, electrocardiography, and imaging studies are used to diagnose angina. It is more frequent in people in their forties and fifties.
Symptoms of Angina Pectoris
Angina is characterised by chest pressure, tightness, or squeezing. Patients may experience pain or pressure beneath the breastbone (sternum). This might be a sharp pain or a subtle discomfort. The pain may be bearable at first, but it will gradually worsen. It might also appear out of nowhere.
Discomfort can also occur in the throat, jaw, teeth, neck, back, and along the inside of either arm.
Other symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Shortness of breath
Resting or taking prescribed heart prescriptions generally relieves the chest discomfort within a few minutes.
Types of Angina
Stable Angina
Stable angina occurs when the heart is working harder and under duress. It is the most prevalent type of angina. Stable angina lasts for five minutes or less and becomes better with rest or medicine.
Unstable Angina
The symptoms of unstable angina are more difficult to anticipate. This chest discomfort happens at rest, when sleeping, or with very little exercise. The soreness might linger for a long time and be quite severe.
Vasospastic or Prinzmetal’s Angina
This is a rare type of angina that occurs when a coronary artery narrows or tightens. It prevents enough blood from getting to your heart and might happen while sleeping.
Microvascular Angina (Syndrome X)
Microvascular angina is caused by difficulties with the microscopic arteries that run through the heart muscle and regulate blood flow to the heart. Recent medical reports show how common microvascular angina is among women. Adults with diabetes or high blood pressure are also more likely to develop small vessel disease.
In some cases, the temporary constriction of much smaller coronary arteries may be to blame. The constriction might be due to a chemical imbalance in the heart or anomalies in small artery function (arterioles).
Diagnosis of Angina Pectoris
Doctors identify angina with the help of:
- Chest x-rays
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
- Nuclear stress test
Blood count tests
- Coronary angiography
- Holter monitor for variant angina
Causes of Angina Pectoris
Angina pectoris is caused by a lack of blood and oxygen reaching the heart muscle (myocardium). Ischemia occurs when there is a lack of blood supply.
- Coronary heart disease is the most prevalent cause. This occurs when plaque, a fatty material, narrows the arteries that provide blood and oxygen to your heart muscle. It indicates that less blood is flowing to your heart muscle, resulting in angina.
- The causes of angina also include:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or the thickening of the ventricle walls.
- Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, or the thickening of the wall separating the ventricles.
- Angina can also be caused by an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).
- Emotional stress, excessive cold or hot temperatures, big meals, alcohol, and smoking are all potential causes of angina.
Angina Bullosa Haemorrhagica (ABH)
Angina bullosa haemorrhagica (ABH) is an uncommon, benign condition. It causes one or more blood-filled blisters in the mouth that develop suddenly and block the airway.
ABH is more common in middle-aged and older adults, regardless of gender. Traumatic oral hemophagocytosis was the name of this illness when it was originally documented in 1933.
Some possible causes of angina bullosa haemorrhagica include:
- Mild trauma
- Long-term use of topical or inhaled steroids
- Diabetes
- Surgical operations by dentists
- Heat damage in the mouth
- Intubation
Conclusion
There are quite a few causes of angina pectoris. Its treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms. Modifying risk factors and using specific medicines may be the most effective therapy when symptoms are stable and mild to severe. Simple lifestyle adjustments can help you manage your angina symptoms, improve your general health, and lower your chance of a future heart attack. Angina Pectoris can be prevented by lowering cholesterol levels with drugs, following guidelines on how much fat to eat, and maintaining a healthy weight.