What is angina?
Dr Bhagwat, a cardiologist at Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mumbai (India), said that angina will create dull pain and there are many different types but it is almost always a sign of blockage in the heart's blood vessels and can form a heart attack in the future.
“This pain signals cardiovascular health problems, is an early warning system and needs to be treated immediately to prevent complications,” said Dr. Bhagwat.
The pain may be felt in the center of the chest, sometimes radiating to the jaw, throat, back, left arm, and shoulder and disappears after rest or taking nitrate medication.
Reason
According to Dr. Bhagwat, the cause is gradual blockage of the arteries by deposits of cholesterol and other fats, preventing the free flow of oxygenated blood to the heart.
This condition is usually diagnosed when the patient's artery is 70-80% blocked and a heart attack occurs when the blockage is 100%. Angina can also last for many years.
One study found that 8% of patients with blocked arteries had daily or weekly angina attacks, and 25% had angina attacks about once a month.
When should I see a cardiologist?
“You may have mild chest pain that goes away, or you may think your pain is due to heartburn or a pulled muscle. Regardless of the nature of your chest pain, don’t just sit there and get it evaluated,” warns Dr. Bhagwat.
According to the doctor, in some cases, we may not develop any symptoms until the blood flow is blocked so severely that the patient has a heart attack and angina at the same time.
Therefore, patients need to monitor and check their health early when they see signs related to angina and heart.
Other types of angina
The person may feel chest pain when walking, climbing stairs, and other activities that require more blood and oxygen. The feeling of heaviness in the chest may be accompanied by some pain when moving the upper body. And then the pain may go away with rest, nitrate medication, and relaxation. This condition is often called stable angina.
Unstable angina involves sudden, severe chest pain that does not go away with rest or medication.
This can even happen at rest. Sometimes, angina in young people presents as a spasm in the coronary arteries. The pain is also severe, but is relieved by medication. This suggests a higher risk of heart attack or dangerous irregular heartbeat.
Dr Bhagwat assessed that this condition is similar to heart disease, namely high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, triglycerides, smoking, lack of physical activity and obesity.
