Angina Pain – Sign Of Heart Disease
Angina covers many symptoms under it. But angina in itself is a symptom. It is a sign of heart disease. Many people suffer from angina. Let us find out more about angina and its relation with heart.
The heart pumps blood to different parts and organs of the body. But for the heart to function, heart also requires blood supply. This blood is supplied by coronary arteries. When the requirement of blood to heart muscles is more than the blood supplied to it, then it may result in angina. Due to heart disease or other diseases such as severe anaemia, thyroid disorders, aortic valve disease, coronary aneurysm etc, there is reduced supply of blood to the heart.
In angina, there is chest discomfort or chest pain present. The pain can be burning, squeezing, choking, constricting in nature. One can also experience heaviness, tightness, heat or cold sensation and weakness in chest. Along with these symptoms, nausea, breathlessness, increased urination, syncope are also present. The duration of all these symptoms is about 30 seconds to 5 minutes. If the pain lasts for more than 5 minutes and persists for about 30 minutes, then there are high chances that the person is heading for a heart attack.
Angina has been classified into 3 major types namely stable angina, prinzmetal angina and unstable angina. In stable angina, chest discomfort occurs after physical exertion and is relieved with rest and taking nitroglycerine. It can also occur after an emotional upset, sexual intercourse, straining at stools, smoking. Cold weather, high altitude can also precipitate angina. These factors are called as precipitating factors.
Prinzmetal angina occurs in the early hours of morning usually after smoking. Platelet aggregation and increased alpha adrenergic activity in the early hours of morning cause spasm of the arteries of the heart giving rise to prinzmetal angina. There are changes of ST elevation noted on electrocardiogram.
The pain in unstable angina usually occurs at rest. It is severe in intensity, frequency and duration than of stable angina. It usually occurs weeks after an episode of heart attack. In 20% cases, people who experience this type of angina develop heart attack within 4 months. So if you are experiencing any type of chest discomfort, get yourself checked from a heart specialist.
