HEART HEALTH
Angina
What is it?
Angina is a fancy word for chest pain or discomfort caused by not enough blood and oxygen getting to your heart. It is a lot like a heart attack except that the "blockage" is partial and/or temporary. People with episodes of angina describe the pain as squeezing, or heaviness in their chest – usually in the centre of the chest behind the breastbone.
People with angina often carry nitroglycerin spray – when they have pain they use this spray which helps to open the blood vessels to the heart to alleviate the symptoms.
Angina puts you at higher risk of having a heart attack. If you are diagnosed with angina you may need more testing and treatment to prevent a heart attack.
Signs and Symptoms
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Chest pain or discomfort that can spread to the jaw, shoulders, arms and back.
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Chest tightness, burning, heaviness, feeling of squeezing or not being able to breathe.
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Angina can sometimes cause dizziness, paleness, weakness and sweating.
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Episodes of angina generally last 3 to 5 minutes, but can last up to 30 minutes
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Angina is usually relieved by rest or medication (nitroglycerin spray)
Doctors classify angina as stable vs. unstable. If you have had angina for some time and all of a sudden you start having episodes at rest, or that do not relieve with rest – this is UNSTABLE angina, and this is a medical emergency just like a heart attack.