Southern Cross Medical Library

Southern Cross Medical Library

Angina is chest discomfort or pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.

Treatment primarily involves relieving symptoms by resting and using angina medications, as well as lifestyle changes to improve overall heart health.

Causes

Angina, which is also known as angina pectoris, occurs when the flow of blood through the coronary arteries to the heart muscle is insufficient to meet the heart’s oxygen demands, such as during physical activity.

Coronary heart disease is the most common cause of reduced blood flow to the heart in people with angina. Coronary heart disease is the build-up of fatty deposits on the inside of the coronary arteries causing them to become narrow and restricting the amount of blood flowing to the heart muscle.

There are two main types of angina:

  • Stable angina: pain lasting 5-15 minutes that is relieved by angina medication. It usually has a trigger, such as physical exercise or exertion, anxiety or emotional stress, cold temperatures, or heavy meals
  • Unstable angina: pain lasting longer than 15 minutes that may not be fully relieved by angina medication. It may indicate that you are having a heart attack. Unstable angina often occurs without a specific trigger.

People with angina are at higher risk of having a heart attack. During a heart attack, the interrupted blood flow can result in the heart muscle being damaged or destroyed. If you have been diagnosed with angina and you experience unstable angina or angina pain that is unusual (e.g., more severe or frequent than usual), unexpected (e.g., occurs when you are resting or wakes you up from sleep), or is not relieved by your usual angina medication, you might be having a heart attack. You should dial 111 immediately and ask for an ambulance.

Signs and symptoms

Angina symptoms are not always present because during times of low oxygen demand, e.g. when at rest, the heart muscle can function on the reduced amount of blood flow without triggering symptoms. However, when your heart doesn’t get enough oxygen (e.g. during exercise) angina symptoms are triggered.

Signs and symptoms of angina include:

  • chest pain or discomfort, often described as squeezing pressure, fullness, tightness, or a heavy weight in the centre of the chest
  • pain or discomfort in the arms, neck, jaw, shoulder or back
  • pain similar to indigestion or heartburn
  • shortness of breath and tiredness
  • nausea, sweating, and dizziness.

The severity, duration, and type of angina can vary. It is important to recognise new or different symptoms since they may signal unstable angina, or a heart attack.

In some cases women with angina may not experience classic chest pressure or discomfort symptoms, and this can lead to delays in seeking treatment. Instead they may experience a stabbing pain and/or some or all of the other symptoms listed above.

Diagnosis

A doctor will conduct a physical examination and discuss your symptoms and risk factors (such as body weight, smoking, diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol levels) and your family history of heart disease.

Tests are available to help confirm a diagnosis of angina. These include:

  • electrocardiogram (ECG): monitors patterns of the electrical signals in the heart to reveal whether the blood flow through the heart has been slowed or interrupted
  • exercise stress test: involves conducting an ECG during exercise since it is easier to diagnose angina when the heart has to work harder
  • echocardiogram: uses sound waves to produce moving images of the heart, which allows identification of angina-related problems
  • chest x-ray: looks for other conditions that might be causing angina symptoms and to see if the heart is enlarged
  • coronary angiography: uses x-ray imaging to obtain a detailed picture of the inside of the coronary arteries
  • computerised tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which can show if the heart is enlarged or the coronary arteries are narrowed.

Treatment and prevention

If you have been diagnosed with angina and you begin to feel symptoms, you should immediately rest and follow the treatment guidelines given to you by your doctor.

To reduce the frequency and severity of your angina symptoms and improve general heart health over time, a range of options may be recommended, from self-management and lifestyle changes to medications, and in some cases surgery.

Self-management

Because angina can be triggered by physical exertion, anxiety or emotional stress, cold weather, or eating a heavy meal, the following behavioural changes may help to alleviate angina symptoms:

  • rest as soon as you feel symptoms coming on
  • pace yourself and take regular breaks
  • reduce and manage stress
  • keep warm
  • avoid eating large meals.

Risk factors for coronary artery disease include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, excess body weight, and low levels of physical activity. Hence, the following lifestyle changes can help to minimise angina symptoms and improve your heart’s health:

Medications

Prescription medications may be necessary if lifestyle changes do not help your angina. The most commonly used medications for controlling angina symptoms are nitrates. They work by widening blood vessels, which allows more blood to reach the heart muscle. Nitrates come in short- and long-acting forms:

Short-acting nitrates

  • Glyceryl trinitrate spray: droplets sprayed on or under the tongue are absorbed quickly from the mouth into the blood stream and provide almost immediate relief
  • Glyceryl trinitrate tablets: placed under the tongue to dissolve or chewed and left to dissolve in the mouth, the tablets are absorbed into the blood stream from the lining of the mouth.

Long-acting nitrates

  • Nitrate skin patches: provide a slow release of nitrate that is absorbed through the skin and provide the longest duration of effect of all the nitrate medications
  • Nitrate tablets or capsules: provide nitrate that is absorbed through the stomach rather than the mouth and have a longer lasting effect than nitrate spray or tablets.

Other medications that may be prescribed to treat angina include beta-blockers which help the heart to pump more efficiently, and calcium antagonists which widen the arteries and allow more blood to flow to the heart.

Procedures

  • Coronary angiogram: used to determine whether surgery or angioplasty is necessary or possible
  • Coronary angioplasty: opening up of narrowed or blocked coronary arteries using a special balloon and stent (metal mesh tube)
  • Coronary artery bypass grafting (surgery): blood vessels are taken from elsewhere in the body are used to bypass blocked coronary arteries.

Further information and support

Healthline

Free phone: 0800 611 116
Website: www.healthline.govt.nz

Heart Foundation

Free phone: 0800 863 375
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.heartfoundation.org.nz

References

Heart Foundation (2018). Angina (Brochure PDF). Auckland: Heart Foundation of New Zealand. https://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/shop/heart-healthcare/what-is-angina-v4.pdf
Mayo Clinic (2018). Diseases and conditions: Angina (Web Page). Rochester, MN: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/angina/basics/definition/con-20031194 [Accessed: 24/01/20]
Ministry of Health (2017). Angina (Web Page). Wellington: New Zealand Ministry of Health. http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/diseases-and-illnesses/heart-disease/angina [Accessed 24/01/20]
O’Toole, M.T. (Ed.) (2017). Angina pectoris. Mosby’s Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing & Health Professions (10th ed.). St Louis, MI: Elsevier.

Updated January 2024

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The purpose of the Southern Cross Medical Library is to provide information of a general nature to help you better understand certain medical conditions. Always seek specific medical advice for treatment appropriate to you. This information is not intended to relate specifically to insurance or healthcare services provided by Southern Cross.