Angina
Angina is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when an area of your heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood. Angina may feel like pressure or squeezing in your chest. The pain also may occur in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. It can feel like indigestion. It is important to note that not all chest pain or discomfort is angina. A heart attack, lung problems (such as an infection or a blood clot), heartburn, or a panic attack also can cause chest pain or discomfort. All chest pain should be checked by a doctor.
Angina – Cause:
Angina itself isn't a disease. Rather, it's a symptom of an underlying heart problem. Angina is usually a symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common type of heart disease. Angina itself isn't a disease. Rather, it's a symptom of an underlying heart problem.
CAD occurs when a fatty material called plaque (plak) builds up on the inner walls of the coronary arteries. These arteries carry oxygen-rich blood to your heart. When plaque builds up in the arteries, the condition is called atherosclerosis (ATH-er-o-skler-O-sis), often referred to as “hardening of the arteries”.
Atherosclerosis
Figure A shows a normal artery with normal blood flow. Figure B shows an artery containing plaque buildup.
Plaque causes the coronary arteries to become narrow and stiff. The flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle is reduced. This causes pain and can lead to a heart attack.
Angina in Women:
It is important to note that angina and other presenting symptoms of heart disease are often overlooked or minimized in women. Angina occurs equally in men and women. It can be a sign of heart disease, even when initial tests don't show evidence of CAD. All chest discomfort should be evaluated by your doctor. (Source: National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, 2007)
Angioplasty: Coronary angioplasty (AN-jee-oh-plas-tee) is a medical procedure in which a balloon is used to open a blockage in a coronary (heart) artery narrowed by atherosclerosis (ATH-er-o-skler-O-sis). This procedure improves blood flow to the heart. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which a material called plaque (plak) builds up on the inner walls of the arteries. This can happen in any artery, including the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries carry oxygen-rich blood to your heart. When atherosclerosis affects the coronary arteries, the condition is called coronary artery disease (CAD). Angioplasty is a common medical procedure. It may be used to:
- Improve symptoms of CAD, such as angina and shortness of breath.
- Reduce damage to the heart muscle from a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when blood flow through a coronary artery is completely blocked. Angioplasty is used during a heart attack to open the blockage and restore blood flow through the artery.
- Reduce the risk of death in some patients.
Angioplasty is done on more than 1 million people a year in the United States. Serious complications don't occur often, but can happen no matter how careful your doctor is, or how well he or she does the procedure.
(Sources: Medline Plus/ National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
