Angina is chest pain or discomfort resulting from decreased flow of oxygenated blood to the heart. In most cases this lack of blood flow is due to coronary heart disease, which is when the coronary arteries that feed the heart become narrowed. Therefore, angina is technically a symptom and not a disease. 1,4
The heart requires an adequate blood supply to function properly, and oxygenated blood is fed to the heart through the coronary arteries. If you develop coronary heart disease, fatty deposits called plaques, or atheroma, gradually build up inside these arteries, narrowing them and reducing the amount of blood able to flow through them. When the heart is required to pump more blood than usual, for example during exercise, the narrowed arteries cannot supply the heart with enough oxygenated blood quickly enough, and pain develops.1
There are three main types of angina:
1. Stable angina
This is the most common type of angina, and pain is usually brought about by physical exertion that results in the heart rate increasing. This type of angina is defined as stable because there is a regular pattern for the pain and similar triggers exist for each attack of angina. Sufferers of stable angina can usually predict how an attack can happen, and these attacks usually only last for a couple of minutes. The pain is usually relieved by rest or by taking angina medication.1
2. Unstable angina
Unstable angina does not follow a regular pattern. A small amount of physical effort such as walking, or even just resting, can result in an attack. In many cases, stable angina can progress to unstable angina, which may be an indication of worsening of coronary heart disease.4 In these cases, you should see a doctor urgently.
Generally, pain from unstable angina is worse than with stable angina. The pain also tends to happen more often, and each episode may last as long as half an hour.1
3. Variant angina
Variant angina is the least common of the three types of angina and is also called Prinzmetals angina. This type usually occurs without warning while resting, or at night, and affects women more than men. 1
It’s important to note that angina is not a heart attack, but is rather a temporary reduction in adequate flow of blood to the heart. With a heart attack (or myocardial infarction) blood supply is completely cut off to part of the heart leaving behind permanent damage to the heart muscle. However if you develop angina it indicates that you may be at an increased risk of eventually having a heart attack.1
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Last Updated 29/04/2009 09:28:01
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