Angina Symptoms Causes & Treatments

By Author: Make HealthEasy
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Angina refers to a painful and uncomfortable feeling in the chest. It occurs when some part of heart does not receive enough oxygen, due to disease in coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart. If angina cause or causes, along with more frequent symptoms continue to worsen, it will set the stage for a heart attack.
Causes of angina can vary from person to person without a doubt. The most common cause is hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis occurs when cholesterol laden obstructions known as arterial tablet form in the arteries surrounding the heart, basically reducing blood flow to the heart. Brief occurrences of angina do not damage the heart, ever increasing frequency of symptoms may be threatening sign signaling the possibility that a heart attack is likely to occur.
Angina symptoms may appear ...
... at varying intervals. Angina occurs when overexerted or it may occur with high emotions or stress. The most predominant angina symptom is chest pain. It may be a crushing pain, followed by heaviness or tightness in center of the chest. Nausea can be experienced at the time of an attack. An affected person can experience breathing difficulties catching breath during an attack. Dizziness may accompany an angina attack.
Pain in angina can occur in the arms, neck, shoulders, throat, jaw or back. Some patients cannot identify where exactly the pain of angina comes from. Angina related symptoms are similar to coronary heart disease which includes nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, sweating or weakness, also called coronary artery disease. During an attack, women feel discomfort in their shoulders, back and abdomen.
Normal dose of angina medications provide immediate relief, but render side effects on exercising immediately after medication intake. It is commonly known that caffeine present in medication, coffee, coals and aspirin are stimulants. Person should avoid cold medication, diet pills, allergy remedies and herbal teas that contain ingredients that increase heart beat rates. So person should avoid that kind of medication that may contain substances that over stimulate the body, thereby making it hyperactive whereas other medications may induce lethargy in a person. Angina treatments include lifestyle changes, rehabilitation, medical procedures and other therapies, as well as natural treatments. Natural treatments also include homeopathic medicines. There are three types of angina: stable angina, unstable angina and variant angina. Following medicines are used to treat stable angina. Nitrates, calcium channel blockers, beta blockers. Nitrates or beta blockers are usually preferred for initial treatment of angina whereas calcium channel blockers may be used if needed. Angiography can help to determine how severe a coronary artery disease is and is helpful in deciding if a stent or bypass surgery is needed.