What is angina pectoris and can it be prevented

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

If severe chest pain persists within 5-10 minutes, call an ambulance.

What is angina pectoris

Angina is a type of chest pain that occurs in Angina (Ischemic Chest Pain) / WebMD when blood flow to the heart is impaired. This happens if something is blocking the artery. Typically, angina pectoris signals heart disease.

If you pay attention to the problem in time and start treatment, nothing bad will happen. However, angina is a sign that one day you may have a heart attack. Therefore, it cannot be ignored.

How to recognize angina pectoris

Again, the main symptom is chest pain, which sometimes echoes in the back, arms, neck, jaw, and shoulders. But there are usually other signs that tell you that you have angina. Here they are Angina / Mayo Clinic:

• pressure, heaviness, or burning sensation in your chest;
• dyspnea;
• sweating;
• nausea;
• dizziness;
• weakness.

If such symptoms appear, consult a cardiologist and find out what type of angina pectoris you have and how dangerous it is.

What are the types of angina pectoris

There are two main types. Further treatment depends on which one you have.

1. Stable angina

Her symptoms develop slowly and gradually. They usually only appear under certain circumstances. For example, when you are very nervous or climbing stairs. As soon as you calm down or rest for a few minutes, everything goes away.

Stable angina is not in itself life threatening. But that means your arteries that supply blood to your heart muscle are narrowing. And the risk of a heart attack is still increasing.

2. Unstable angina

In this case, on the contrary, the symptoms appear abruptly and persist for 30 minutes or more, even at rest.

During an attack of unstable angina pectoris, the blood supply and the performance of the heart are at risk, so the person needs urgent medical attention.

What to do if you have or are suspected of having an angina attack

First, stop and rest. If symptoms have disappeared after a couple of minutes, make an appointment with your cardiologist for a check-up.

And if you've already been diagnosed with angina pectoris, take the prescribed medication and wait a few minutes.

If your angina symptoms persist, call the ambulance at 103 or 112 right away. It could be a heart attack.

Who is at risk of getting angina?

Most often, those with atherosclerosis. Fat deposits (plaques) accumulate in the vessels, they narrow the arteries and interfere with the blood flow. Angina / NHS Scotland risk factors for angina pectoris are anything that can narrow blood vessels.

• High blood pressure. Over time, it damages the arteries.
• High blood cholesterol or triglyceride levels. This leads to the accumulation of fatty deposits on the walls of blood vessels.
• Alcohol. Regular consumption increases blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
• Tobacco. This includes smoking and chewing any form of tobacco. It damages the walls of blood vessels.
• Diabetes. It can also affect the development of angina pectoris. Be sure to talk to your doctor about this.
• An inactive lifestyle. Lack of exercise raises blood pressure and increases the risk of diabetes. With all the ensuing consequences.
• Age. Over time, the arteries narrow. The older you get, the higher the risk.
• Genetics. If any of your relatives have angina pectoris, your risk of developing it increases.

How to treat angina pectoris

The complex of treatment that the cardiologist prescribes for you depends on the type of angina pectoris and the frequency of attacks.

Saida Sidakova Cardiologist of the Federal Network of Diagnostic and Medical Centers "Expert Clinic".

First of all, the patient will have to change the lifestyle in order to reduce the risk factors for angina pectoris. To relieve symptoms of the disease and prevent complications, the doctor will prescribe medications. In some cases, percutaneous coronary intervention (non-surgical) or stenting of the heart vessels (surgery) may also be necessary.

Lifestyle

Angina usually occurs with heart disease, so you need to do your best to reduce the Angina / Mayo Clinic risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

• Do not smoke or chew tobacco, avoid secondhand smoke.
• Lose weight if you are overweight.
• Eat healthy foods, add more fruits, vegetables and whole grains to your diet.
• Do not overeat until the stomach is heavy.
• Ask your doctor to prescribe a training plan for you to walk more.
• Avoid stressful situations, rest and relax more often. Perhaps practice meditation and breathing exercises.
• Limit alcohol consumption.

Medicines

To quickly relieve an angina attack, a cardiologist may prescribe nitrates and aspirin.

Procedures and surgery

They may be needed for people with unstable angina when lifestyle changes and medications are not helping.

Saida Sidakova Cardiologist.

Angioplasty (percutaneous coronary intervention), stenting and coronary artery bypass grafting are used to treat angina pectoris, depending on the severity of the disease, the number of coronary arteries affected, the degree of vasoconstriction, and the presence of concomitant diseases.

Can angina be prevented?

Yes, partially. You can significantly reduce your risk of angina by changing your lifestyle now. All the recommendations that are described above are also suitable for prevention.

Unfortunately, some factors cannot be influenced, so there is no one hundred percent way to prevent angina pectoris.