Angina
The term angina is also referred to as ischemia. This is a sort of chest pain that is caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. Angina is a symptom of coronary artery disease. Although angina is comparatively common, it can still be difficult to differentiate from other types of chest pain, such as the discomfort of indigestion.
Sometimes you may feel unexplained chest pain; seek medical attention right away. It may feel like pressure in your chest. Angina is not a serious disease that cannot be treated. It is a basic symptom of an underlying heart problem. Angina has many types, which include micro prinzmetal's angina, stable angina, unstable angina and variant angina.
There are many factors that can trigger angina pain, depending on the type of angina you may have. The symptoms can also be responsible for which type of angina you have.
Understand Your Risk for Angina
If you have a chance of any heart disease or coronary MVD risk, then you also may develop the risk for angina. The most major risk factors for heart disease and coronary MVD include:
- Unhealthy cholesterol levels, high blood pressure
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Overweight or obesity
- Metabolic syndrome
- Inactivity
- Unhealthy diet
- Older age
- Family history of early heart disease
Diagnosis of Angina
All kinds of chest pain should be taken seriously and need to be checked by a healthcare provider. If you feel any kind of chest pain, your doctor will find out whether it's angina and or not. If it turns out to be any of the symptoms of angina, then the medical staff or doctors give you medical treatment. Also, a doctor will be able to find out whether the angina is stable or unstable. You may need emergency medical treatment if the case is unstable to prevent a heart attack.
Treatment of Angina
Your doctor will tell you which physical exam should be taken, and also, you should ask about your symptoms, risk factors and family history. They might need to do certain tests likes:
- EKG: This test measures your heart's electrical activity and rhythm.
- Stress test: This test is done to check how your heart is working while you are doing any activity and exercise.
- Blood tests: The doctor will check the proteins level called troponins. Your doctor may also do more general tests like a metabolic panel or complete blood count (CBC).
- Imaging tests: Chest X-rays help to find out other things that might be causing your chest pain, like lung conditions. Echocardiograms and CT and MRI scans can create images of the heart to help the doctor recognize the problems.
- Cardiac catheterization: This will be going to inserts a long, thin tube into an artery in your leg and threads it up to the heart to check your blood flow and pressure.
- Coronary angiography: Your doctor injects into the blood vessels of your heart. This process shows up on an X-ray, also creating an image of the blood vessels. They may do this procedure during cardiac catheterization.
When to see a doctor
If your pain lasts for longer than a few minutes and doesn't go while taking rest or sleep or taking angina medications, then it may be a sign you have a heart attack. If you think your chest discomfort is a new symptom for you, it's important to check with your doctor and try to find out the cause of your chest pain and get proper treatment and medication. It is also important if you are diagnosed with stable angina and it gets worse by the time or changes, seeks medical attention immediately.
Why should you consider BGS Gleneagles Hospital?
BGS Gleneagles Hospital, Cardiology is our most trusted hospital for cardiac disease in Bangalore. Our speciality is one of the best heart hospitals which gives the best treatment of any cardiac disease. We provide advanced level care for all the specialities such as heart diseases, cardiac diseases and also provide cardiovascular and thoracic surgeries.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How serious is angina?
It's not life-threatening, but it's an alarm warning sign that you could be at risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Can angina just go away?
Angina symptoms usually ease or go away after a few minutes' rest or after taking the medicines but if you think you may be having a heart attack, call your local emergency service.
How do you fix angina?
Angina needs to be treated with nitrates to relax and widen your blood vessels, allowing more blood to flow to your heart muscle.
What are the three types of angina?
The different types of Angina Pectoris are Stable Angina, Unstable Angina and Variant Angina Pectoris.
