Heart Angina – What is it?

Heart angina is a form of coronary artery disease.  It occurs as the result of atherosclerotic coronary (heart) arteries.  The coronary arteries are the arteries that are located on the surface of your heart, and provide your heart muscle with oxygen and nutrients.

Atherosclerosis is sometimes called “hardening of the arteries,” and involves a build-up of plaque inside the artery walls.  Plaque can build up in arteries all over your body, but heart angina involves the coronary arteries.  As the plaque builds up, it makes it harder for blood to get through the arteries to provide your heart with the necessary oxygen. This is what can lead to heart angina.

Angina is not a heart attack, but it is a warning sign that your heart is not getting enough oxygen.  It should be noted that angina can occur in people who have never had a heart attack or in people who have had a heart attack in the past.   Angina is the result of a temporary decrease in the flow of blood to your heart.  Angina usually results in chest pain, unless it is silent angina.

Angina tends to be brought on during periods of stress related to strenuous, physical work, psychological stress, or  being or working in a location that is either too cold or too hot.

There are different forms of heart angina.  As I mentioned before, silent angina is angina with a reduction in oxygen to the heart, but there is no pain.  There is a small percentage of people who have this.  Stable angina has predictable pain, and tends to be brought on by exercise or stress.  It can be relieved with nitroglycerin or rest.  Unstable angina, whereas, is a more unpredictable form of angina that can come on even during rest.  It does not always respond to medication, and seen as more severe as it may lead to a heart attack, and therefore medical treatment should be sought immediately.

Now, that you know what angina is, you will want to know what its signs are.  In the upcoming post, I will give you information on this.  Until then, please take care of your heart.