Q-What is Angina?
Ans- Angina Pectoris ("angina") is a recurring pain or discomfort in the chest
that happens when some part of the heart does not receive enough blood.
It is a common symptom of coronary heart disease, which occurs when vessels
that carry blood to the heart become narrowed and blocked due to atherosclerosis
Angina feels like a pressing or squeezing pain, usually in the chest under the
breast bone, but sometimes in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaws, or back.
Angina is usually triggered by exertion. It is usually relieved within a few minutes
by resting or by taking prescribed angina medicine.
Q- What Triggers Angina?
Ans- Episodes of angina occur when the heart's need for oxygen increases beyond
the oxygen available from the blood nourishing the heart. Physical exertion is the
most common trigger for angina. Other triggers can be emotional stress, extreme cold
or heat, heavy meals, alcohol, and cigarette smoking.
Q- Does Angina Mean a Heart Attack is about to Happen?
Ans- An episode of angina is not a heart attack. Angina pain means that some of the
heart muscle in not getting enough blood temporarily--for example, during exercise,
when the heart has to work harder. The pain does NOT mean that the heart muscle
is suffering irreversible, permanent damage. Episodes of angina seldom cause permanent
damage to heart muscle.
In contrast, a heart attack occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart is suddenly
and permanently cut off. This causes permanent damage to the heart muscle. Typically,
the chest pain is more severe, lasts longer, and does not go away with rest or with
medicine that was previously effective. However, the symptoms of a heart attack are varied
and may be considerably milder.
When someone has a repeating but stable pattern of angina, an episode of angina does not
mean that a heart attack is about to happen. In contrast, when the pattern of angina
changes--if episodes become more frequent, last longer, or occur without exercise-
-the risk of heart attack in subsequent days or weeks is much higher.
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