Angina, or angina pectoris, is the medical term used to describe temporary chest discomfort that occurs when the heart is not getting enough blood.
The heart is a muscle (myocardium) and gets its blood supply from the coronary arteries.
The blood carries the oxygen and nutrients that the heart needs to keep pumping.
When the heart does not get enough blood, it can no longer function at its full capacity.
When physical exertion, strong emotions, extreme temperatures, or eating increase the demand on the heart, the person feels temporary pain, pressure, fullness, or squeezing in the center of the chest or in the neck, shoulder, jaw, upper arm, or upper back. This is angina, especially if the discomfort is relieved by removing the stressor and/or taking sublingual (under the tongue) nitroglycerin.
The discomfort of angina is temporary, meaning a few seconds or minutes, not hours or all day.
An episode of angina is not a heart attack. Having angina means you have an increased risk of having a heart attack.
A heart attack is when the blood supply to part of the heart is cut off and that part of the muscle dies.
Angina can be a helpful warning sign if it makes you seek timely medical help and avoid a heart attack.
Prolonged or unchecked angina can lead to a heart attack or increase your risk of having a heart rhythm abnormality. Either of those could lead to sudden death.
Time is very important in angina.
The more time your heart is deprived of adequate blood flow (ischemia), and thus oxygen, the more your heart muscle is at risk of heart attack or heart rhythm abnormalities.
The longer you have chest pain from angina, the more your heart muscle is at risk of dying or malfunctioning.
Not all chest pain is angina. Pain in the chest can come from a number of causes, which range from not serious to very serious.
It can be caused by acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD), an upper respiratory infection, or asthma. Chest pain is frequently due to muscles and ligaments in the chest being sore (chest wall pain).
If pain in the chest is severe and/or recurrent, you should see your health care provider.
Go to a hospital emergency department if you have any of the following with chest pain:
Other symptoms such as sweating, weakness, faintness, numbness or tingling, or nausea
Pain that does not go away after a few minutes
Pain that concerns you in any way
Circulatory System
Circulatory System, or cardiovascular system, in humans, the combined function of the heart, blood, and blood vessels to transport oxygen and nutrients to organs and tissues throughout the body and carry away waste products. Among its vital functions, the circulatory system increases the flow of blood to meet increased energy demands during exercise and regulates body temperature.
