Angina Pectoris

Angina itself isn't a disease. Rather, it's a symptom of an underlying heart problem.

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How Can Angina Be Prevented?

You can prevent or lower your risk for angina and coronary artery disease (CAD) by making lifestyle changes and treating related conditions.

Making Lifestyle Changes

Healthy lifestyle choices can help prevent or delay angina and CAD. To make lifestyle changes, you can:

• Follow a healthy eating plan. (See "How Is Angina Treated" for more information.)

• Quit smoking, if you smoke. Avoid secondhand smoke.

• Be physically active. Check with your doctor to find out how much and what kinds of activity are safe for you.

• Learn ways to handle stress and relax.

Treating Related Conditions

You also can help prevent or delay angina and CAD by treating related conditions, such as:

High blood cholesterol. If you have high cholesterol, follow your doctor's advice about lowering it. Take medicines as directed to lower your cholesterol.

High blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, follow your doctor's advice about keeping your blood pressure under control. Take blood pressure medicines as directed.

Diabetes. If you have diabetes, follow your doctor's advice about keeping your blood sugar level under control. Take medicines as directed.

Overweight or obesity. If you're overweight or obese, talk to your doctor about how to lose weight safely.

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Key Points

• Angina is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when your heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood. Angina is the symptom of an underlying heart condition, usually coronary artery disease (CAD).

• CAD occurs when a fatty material called plaque builds up on the inner walls of the coronary arteries. Plaque causes the coronary arteries to become narrow and stiff. The flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle is reduced.

• Angina may feel like pressure or a squeezing pain in your chest. The pain also may occur in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back.

The most common types of angina are stable angina and unstable angina. A rare type of angina is called variant angina.

- • Stable angina occurs when the heart is working harder than usual. Pain from stable angina goes away when you rest or take your angina medicine. Angina medicine, such as nitroglycerin, helps widen and relax the arteries so that more blood can flow to the heart.

- • Unstable angina is a very dangerous condition and needs emergency treatment. Unstable angina is a sign that a heart attack may happen soon. Unstable angina can occur with or without physical exertion. It isn't relieved by rest or medicine.

- • Variant angina is caused by a spasm (tightening) in a coronary artery. This narrowing of the artery slows or stops blood flow to the heart muscle. The pain may be severe. This type of angina is relieved by medicine.

Nearly 7 million people in the United States have angina. It occurs equally in men and women.

• Because angina is usually a symptom of CAD, its risk factors are usually the same as those for CAD.

• Pain and discomfort are the main symptoms of angina. Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), fatigue (tiredness), shortness of breath, sweating, light-headedness, or weakness also may occur.

• If you have chest pain, your doctor will want to find out whether it's angina. To diagnose angina, your doctor will do a physical exam and ask about your symptoms, risk factors, and family history of heart disease. He or she also may order tests to confirm the diagnosis.

• Treatments for angina include lifestyle changes, medicines, medical procedures, and cardiac rehabilitation. Lifestyle changes include following a healthy eating plan, quitting smoking, being physically active, losing weight, and learning how to handle stress and relax.

• You can prevent or lower your risk for angina and CAD by making lifestyle changes and treating related conditions.

• If you have angina, it's important to know the pattern of your angina, what medicines you take (keep a list) and how often you should take then, how to control your angina, and the limits on your physical activity. You should know how and when to seek medical help.