What exactly is angina? Is it chest pain? Well, it is that and more. Let's find out exactly what angina is, it causes, symptoms, treatments and more.
Angina, or angina pectoris, its official name, is a disease of the heart that causes chest pain. The chest pain in angina is caused by a decreased flow of blood from the coronary arteries (which are the heart's arteries), and an oxygen deficiency (lack of oxygen) to the heart. The heart is a muscle, and like any muscle, requires oxygen in order to function. When any muscle has a lack of oxygen, then that muscle will begin to hurt, cramp and/or ache.
Angina Pectoris disease is usually a result of atherosclerosis. However it should be known that certain other conditions can predispose a person to angina as well. These include conditions that can be hereditary, such as diabetes and hypertension. They can also include aquired conditions and illnesses such as syphilis and rheumatic heart disease. Things such as aging, smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes can cause the atherosclerosis to develop over time. The atherosclerosis then leads to angina, or chest pain. So, in effect, one condition effects the other, and so on.
Some studies have found that angina occurs mostly when the work load on the heart is quite high. So, when the person exercises, works hard, is under stress, or even when eating a heavy meal, the angina can occur. Do not confuse angina with a heart attack. Angina is different from a heart attack, because with angina, no permanent damage is done to the heart muscle. Angina can be a sign of serious heart problems, so do not ignore it. Do not be stubborn or just assume that you have indigestion. Like the old saying goes, it is better to be safe than sorry.
The reason angina is a potentially serious problem that should not be ignored is that often it can be a warning or precursor for an actual heart attack. With the angina pain, there is no damage done to the heart, but with a heart attack, there IS damage done to the heart muscle, and it can even be fatal. You should see your doctor for testing if you have any kind of chest pain. If the pain is ever accompanied by sweating, numbness or pain in the left hand, arm, shoulder and/or jaw, especially, seek medical treatment immediately! These symptoms are all signs of a heart attack (myocardial infarction).
Blood tests may be done to rule out other possible causes of the pain. An EKG will most likely be done to look for both damage and lack of blood to the heart. Almost always, a stress test is done to test the endurance of the heart. If the stress test causes an abnormal EKG and/or if chest pain occurs during the stress test (a stress test is when you are hooked up to an EKG machine while you walk on a treadmill on a gradual incline, to "stress" the heart a little), the testing will be stopped. If the pain is bad enough and the EKG shows damage, the doctor will probably want to do what is known as a cardiac catheterization. This involves putting you to sleep and injecting dye into an artery to look at the vessels in the heart to check for blockage.
Treatment varies. If the pain is mild and blockage is mild, angina can be treated with medications, such as nitroglycerin. During an anginal attack, a person can place one TNT (nitoglycerin, sublingual) pill under the tongue and allow it to melt there. If there is no relief after five minutes, another one is placed under the tongue and allowed to melt. This is repeated as long as there is chest pain, up to three pills. If, after three sublingual TNT's there is no relief, you should call 911, or seek immediate medical attention. I use the old adage' "three strikes and you're out". You only have one heart, take care of it. Start today. It's never too early.
Here are some ways to avoid angina:
-control your blood sugar
-stop smoking!
-exercise slowly and regularly
-avoid outdoor activity in very hot or very cold temperatures
-lost weight
-keep blood pressure in check
-keep cholesteral down
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