Angina
What is angina?
Angina is a pain or discomfort in the chest,
usually caused by coronary heart
disease – the narrowing of the coronary artery
reducing the blood supply to the heart. In some people the pain may
affect only the arm, neck, stomach or jaw.
What does angina feel like?
Angina usually feels like a heaviness or tightness in your chest
which may spread to your arms, neck, jaw, back or
stomach. Symptoms usually subsides after a few minutes and
while some patients report a severe tightness, others say it’s more
like a dull ache. It’s often brought on by physical activity or an
emotional upset, cold weather and after a meal. If your angina
pattern changes in any way, you should speak to your doctor
immediately.
Can I prevent it?
While you can’t reverse the underlying damage caused by coronary
heart disease, you can prevent it from getting worse. Keep your
heart healthy by:
- Giving up smoking
- Controlling high blood pressure
- Reducing blood cholesterol
- Controlling your weight
- Controlling your blood glucose if you’re diabetic.
Diagnosis and treatment
Your doctor may be able to diagnose whether you have experienced
an angina attack from the symptoms that you describe. Your doctor
or nurse may want to carry out a cardiovascular risk
assessment or carry out tests on your heart.
There is medication
that can help to control the symptoms of your condition and prevent
further problems. Some people will need treatments, such as angioplasty
or heart bypass surgery.
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 need to make.
What to do if you get chest pain
If you have not been diagnosed with heart disease and
have chest pain, call 999 now.
This information is for you if you have already been diagnosed
with coronary heart disease and have a GTN (glyceryl
trinitrate) spray or tablets.
Sometimes you may experience pain or discomfort. Often this
will be angina that you can manage at home with your GTN, but it
could be a heart attack. Here’s what to do if you feel:
- A crushing pain, heaviness or tightness in your chest,
or
- A pain in your arm, throat, neck, jaw, back or stomach.
- You might also become sweaty, feel light-headed, sick or short
of breath at the same time.
Step one: stop what you are doing or sit down
and rest.
Step two: 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.
Step three: if the pain does not ease within a few
minutes after your second dose, call 999 immediately
Step four: if you’re not allergic to aspirin and
there’s one easily available, chew an adult tablet (300mg). If you
don’t have an aspirin next to you or you’re not sure if
you’re allergic to aspirin, rest until the ambulance arrives.
Even if your symptoms don’t match the ones above but you think
you’re having a heart attack, call 999 immediately.
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More information
Visit our Publications
section to order or download:
Our booklet on
Angina
Our booklet on angina
for South Asian community
Angina and what you can do about it
