Angina (angina pectoris or heart pain) occurs when there is insufficient oxygen-rich blood flowing through the heart muscles. It is often characterised by a tight feeling in a person’s chest, which may also extend up to the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back.
Angina and a heart attack may present similar symptoms, like pressure, squeezing, or tightness in the chest. However, the pain from a heart attack is more intense, lasts longer and may be accompanied by additional symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, or pain radiating to the arm, neck, or jaw.
Angina is commonly due to an underlying heart problem such as Coronary Artery Disease (where the arteries supplying blood to the heart narrow and become blocked), which is the most common cause of heart disease and the main reason why people have heart attacks.
One of the most common symptoms of angina is pain and discomfort in the chest, which tend to occur with physical activity or under stress.
Other symptoms include:
When experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned, it is crucial to seek medical attention immediately for appropriate angina treatment. These symptoms can be an indication of a more serious underlying cause.
As the symptoms can be quite common, a cardiologist should be consulted to determine if it is indeed a cardiac condition, an emergency, or something else. As a general rule, apart from heart pain, heart diseases also present with symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, fatigue and breathlessness – particularly in women.
Most people develop angina due to coronary artery disease. As fatty deposits or plaque accumulate, an artery carrying blood through the heart becomes narrowed or blocked. This results in the onset of a disease known as atherosclerosis. Factors that may lead to this condition include:
Diets high in saturated fats, cholesterol, and sugars can contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries, increasing the risk of atherosclerosis and angina.
Sedentary lifestyles can lead to obesity and other risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which can cause arterial blockages.
Smoking damages the lining of the arteries, promotes plaque buildup, and reduces oxygen in the blood, all of which can lead to angina.
These are sudden, temporary tightenings of the muscles within the artery walls, which can reduce or block blood flow to the heart, causing angina.
High blood sugar levels can damage the arteries and promote atherosclerosis, increasing the likelihood of experiencing angina.
Stress can trigger the release of stress hormones like adrenaline, which increases heart rate and blood pressure. This can potentially lead to reduced blood flow to the heart and angina symptoms.
In Singapore, angina treatment is determined by the severity of the patient's condition. In mild cases, lifestyle changes, such as a balanced diet and exercise, may be helpful in managing symptoms. Medications and more invasive procedures are also possible methods of angina treatment in Singapore, which can help increase oxygen delivery to the heart and treat the underlying causes of the condition.
With this, you constantly experience symptoms when your heart works harder than usual, such as while you are exercising. Unlike other types of angina, stable angina can be predicted and the pain only lasts a relatively short time. The discomfort can easily be relieved by resting or through angina treatment, including medication.
This is a medical emergency. This type of angina is unpredictable and may occur even when the body is at rest. It is more severe and can last up to 30 minutes or longer. Having an unstable angina might be a sign of an impending heart attack.
This usually occurs when a person is at rest and often strikes around midnight and early in the morning. It can be very painful and is caused by a spasm in the coronary arteries, which is a result of either exposure to cold weather, medicine intake, smoking, or drug use.
This may be a symptom of Coronary Microvascular Disease (MVD), a heart disease that affects the heart’s smallest coronary artery blood vessels.
It may be more severe and can last longer than other types of angina. It is also characterised by shortness of breath, sleep problems, fatigue, and lack of energy.
In order to differentiate angina from other non-heart-related causes of chest pain, several diagnostic tests may be performed:
This test uses sound waves to examine the status of the heart. Results of echocardiography come in 2 and 3-dimensional images of the heart and it can show if blood is flowing properly in the chambers and valves of the heart.
Angina is easier to diagnose when the heart is working harder. During a stress test, the patient’s blood pressure and ECG readings are examined while he or she exercises by walking on a treadmill or pedalling a stationary bicycle.
This procedure records a person’s heartbeat by using an electrical impulse generated from special cells. Through this, the doctor can look for patterns among the heartbeats to see if there is an abnormality in the blood flow through the vessels.
Images of the heart and lungs are taken with the help of this test. Chest X-rays can determine if there are existing structural abnormalities.
This X-ray imaging test examines the inside of the heart’s blood vessels. During this procedure, a type of dye that is visible in an X-ray machine is injected into the heart’s blood vessels.
Angina treatment can involve oral medications. In more serious cases, an angioplasty or bypass surgery may be required to unblock the arteries and resume normal blood flow.
Many people with angina can live a normal life with proper management. This often involves a combination of lifestyle changes, medication adherence, and regular medical check-ups to ensure optimal heart health.
One way to reduce the risk of angina is to engage in an active lifestyle and keep a healthy diet.
Nevertheless, proper consultation and detailed cardiac assessment with a heart specialist first will help greatly in the prevention and treatment of angina and other heart diseases.