Angina Causes, Symptoms and Effective Treatments

Medical articles

Angina pectoris causes, symptoms, methods of prevention and treatment

Medical articles

Reviewed by: Dr. Mohamed Amin Yassin, Cardiology Consultant

Many people suffer from angina as a result of a decrease in the rate of blood flowing to the heart. It is a feeling of pressure or squeezing, and one of the most common symptoms of coronary artery disease. It is divided into several types that differ in severity and method of treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to refer to a specialist as soon as you feel its symptoms in order to receive the required health care to prevent the condition from worsening. It is also preferable to go to Al Mousa Specialist Center due to it being one of the best medical centers that has an elite group of specialists with the most experience in these and other cases. For more information, follow the article with us to the end.

What is angina?

One of the symptoms that people suffer from as a result of coronary artery disease, and it is usually the result of oxygenated blood not reaching the heart in the required manner.

It consists of annoying pain and pressure in the chest area and sometimes extends to the shoulder and arms, as well as the back or jaw and neck.

It is considered a symptom that may threaten the lives of individuals, although it is not an independent disease, because it may cause a heart attack or stroke if the condition is neglected.

Note that it can be controlled by changing lifestyle and taking medications prescribed by the doctor on time and regularly.

Types of angina

First: stable angina

It is one of the most prominent and common types of angina, and many people suffer from it, especially during strenuous physical activities or in cold weather, in addition to feeling the symptoms of stable angina when walking on an uphill road.

Stable angina is a predictable type that lasts only a few minutes and usually lasts up to 5.

This type usually disappears with regular medication, rest, and stopping strenuous physical activities.

Second: unstable angina

It is one of the most dangerous types, as it is one of the medical conditions that requires immediate medical intervention, especially since it is one of the types that is difficult to predict.

It occurs suddenly during physical rest, and lasts for approximately 20 minutes, and the patient does not improve or the pain disappears even when taking medications.

This is why medical intervention is necessary in order to ensure blood flow to the heart and that it receive the amount of oxygen required to prevent a heart attack.

Third: Variable angina

It occurs as a result of a clear spasm in the arteries of the heart, which leads to a temporary reduction in blood supply to the heart. It is known as Prinzmetal's angina, and is characterized by severe pain in the chest area.

This type of angina usually occurs at night and during rest, and its severity decreases with appropriate medications.

Fourth: Intractable angina

It is a type of angina that recurs constantly, as taking medications regularly or even making lifestyle changes in general does not affect it.

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What are the symptoms of angina?

Feeling severe pain in the chest area, such as pressure, squeezing, or a feeling of fullness.
There is pain in the shoulder and back area that extends to the arms and neck sometimes.
Dizziness and nausea.
Feeling exhausted and severely short of breath.
Sweating and a feeling of moisture in the skin.
There is annoying pain in the jaw and teeth area.
Stabbing-like pain in the chest area.
Note that there is severe stomach pain.

Causes of angina pectoris

The cause of angina is the lack of access of oxygenated blood to the heart, which leads to weakness in the heart muscle.

Coronary artery disease is considered one of the most prominent factors that cause this matter, as it causes narrowing of the arteries due to the accumulation of fatty deposits in them, which are known as plaques.

When these plaques rupture, a blood clot occurs, reducing blood flow to the heart.

Angina risk factors

Exposure to low temperatures leads to angina.
Having diabetes increases the risk of angina.
Tobacco use, drugs and smoking.
There is a family history of angina.
Aging contributes to a person being more susceptible to angina.
High blood pressure as well as cholesterol levels in the body.
The patient has a chronic disease such as metabolic syndrome or chronic kidney disease.
Lack of regular exercise or daily physical activities.

What are the complications of angina pectoris?

Severe shortness of breath.
There is severe, annoying pain in the stomach and upper abdomen.
Feeling of fullness, nausea, and vomiting.
The presence of severe chest pain that occurs in the form of seizures.
Fainting due to the severity of the pain that increases in the back, teeth, shoulder and arms.
Excessive sweating in the body.

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Methods of diagnosing angina pectoris

Electrocardiogram, which measures the electrical activity of the heart.
X-ray imaging that reflects the condition of the heart and lungs, as well as the chest in general.
Blood tests are done in order to know the heart enzymes and the extent to which some proteins are leaking into it or not.
Echocardiogram is used to obtain an image of the heart during movement.
Effort selection, which measures the efficiency of the heart while performing a specific effort.
MRI, or appropriate CT scan.
Coronary angiography.

The best treatment for angina pectoris

First: medicines

النترات تستخدم من أجل ارتخاء الأوعية الدموية وتوسيعها.
Medications that prevent blood clotting, such as Alprais Gril, in addition to TekaGlor and Clopidogrel.
Aspirin is one of the most popular types of medications as it is used to thin the blood.
Medicines that lower cholesterol.

Second: Non-pharmacological treatment

Treatment with what is known as external reflex pulsation involves support that increases the rate of blood flow to the heart.

This treatment helps reduce the symptoms of angina, but it requires many sessions.

Third: Surgery

Angioplasty helps widen the arteries using stents.
Coronary artery bypass grafting is based on using one of the arteries in the body and installing it instead of the blocked artery in the heart during a complex surgery.

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Ways to prevent angina pectoris

Follow a healthy lifestyle that depends on exercising and eating healthy, balanced food.
Do daily physical activities on a regular basis.
Completely abstain from smoking, using tobacco, or consuming alcoholic beverages.
Make sure to take medications for other chronic diseases to avoid complications, especially angina.
البعد عن التوتر والانفعال قدر المستطاع.
Get an adequate amount of sleep daily, at least 7 to 8 hours.

Doctors point out that persistent pain in the chest for more than a few minutes is only one of the symptoms of angina, so it is necessary to take medications for it on time, and if the matter worsens, one must resort to a specialist doctor, especially Al Mousa Specialist Center, where the best possible amount of health care is obtained that enables the patient to get rid of the annoying pain, pressure, and all the symptoms caused by angina.

FAQs

How do you know you have angina?

There is severe pain in the form of pressure in the chest area, especially the left side. The pain extends to the shoulder, back, and arms, and its intensity increases with any effort. It stops with rest and taking medications.