Angina
What is angina?
Angina is a pain or discomfort
felt in the chest, and usually caused by coronary heart disease.
However, in some cases the pain may affect some people in only
the arm, neck, stomach or jaw.
What does angina feel like?
Angina often feels like a heaviness or
tightness in your chest, but this
may spread to your arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach as
well. Some people describe the feeling of severe
tightness, while others say it’s more of a dull
ache. Symptoms of experiencing shortness of
breath have been reported too.
Angina is often brought on by physical
activity, an emotional upset, cold weather or after a meal.
Symptoms usually subside after a few minutes.
If your symptom pattern changes, you should
speak to your doctor immediately.
Can I prevent angina?
Unfortunately you can’t reverse coronary heart disease, but you
can help prevent your angina and the condition from getting worse
by keeping your heart healthy. It is important to:
Some medications can also be used to help
prevent angina episodes.
How is it diagnosed and treated?
Your doctor may be able to diagnose whether you have angina
from the symptoms that you describe.
Alternatively, they may want to carry out a health check or send you
for some tests.
There is medication
available too that can help control your symptoms, whereas
some people require treatments such as angioplasty
or heart bypass surgery. And so living a healthy
lifestyle is very important!
Everyday life with angina
Many people with angina have a good quality of life and continue
with their normal daily activities. Your doctor or nurse will be
able to advise you on your daily activity and any lifestyle changes
you may need to make.
What to do if you get chest pain
If you have not been diagnosed with heart disease
and experience chest pains, call 999 immediately.
The below information is for you if you have
already been diagnosed with coronary heart disease and
have a glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) spray or tablets.
Sometimes you may experience pain or discomfort
and often this will be angina that you can manage at home with
your GTN. However, it could be a heart attack. Here’s what to do
if you feel:
- A crushing pain, heaviness or tightness in your chest.
- A pain in your arm, throat, neck, jaw, back or
stomach.
- You may also become sweaty, feel light-headed, sick or become
short of breath.
- Stop what you are doing and sit down and
rest.
- Take your GTN spray and tablets, according to
your doctor or nurse’s instructions. The pain should ease within a
few minutes – if it doesn’t, take a second dose.
- If the pain does not ease within a few minutes
after your second dose, call 999 immediately.
- If you’re not allergic to aspirin,
chew one adult tablet (300mg). If you don’t
have any aspirin or you are not sure if you're allergic
to aspirin, you should rest until the ambulance arrives.
Even if your symptoms don’t match the above but
you suspect you’re having a heart attack,
call 999 immediately.
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Where can I find more information?
You can order or download our booklet on
Angina - or for the South Asian community
there is the booklet Angina
and what you can do about it.
