Angina is chest pain or pressure caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscles. It is not usually life threatening. But it's a warning sign that you could be at risk of a heart attack or stroke.
It's important to get medical help if you have symptoms of angina. You can lower your risk of serious problems with lifestyle changes and treatment.
Symptoms of angina
The main symptom of angina is chest pain or pressure.
Chest pain caused by angina usually:
- ranges from a tight feeling in your chest to severe pain
- is triggered by physical exertion or stress
- stops within 10 minutes of resting
You may have other symptoms such as feeling sick or breathless.
Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment if:
- you have chest pain that goes away after you rest for about 10 minutes
They can check if it might be a heart problem and refer you to a hospital for tests.
Emergency action required: Call 112 or 999 for an ambulance if:
- you have chest pain that does not stop after 10 minutes
This could be a sign of a heart attack.
Do not worry if you have doubts. Paramedics would rather be called out to find an honest mistake than be too late to save a person's life.
Types of angina
There are 2 main types of angina:
- stable angina (more common) - may be triggered by stress or exercise, and the pain stops with rest
- unstable angina (more serious) - may not have a trigger and can continue even if you rest
Some people develop unstable angina after having stable angina.
Causes of angina
The arteries that bring blood to your heart muscle can become blocked by a build-up of fatty substances. This build-up is called atherosclerosis. It can cause angina.
Things that can increase your risk of atherosclerosis include:
- an unhealthy diet
- a lack of exercise
- having excess weight
- smoking
- increasing age
- a family history of atherosclerosis or heart problems
- diabetes
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
Treating angina
If you have angina, you may be given medicine to:
- treat an angina attack if you have one (glyceryl trinitrate)
- lower your chances of having an angina attack, such as beta blockers
- reduce your risk of having a stroke or heart attack, such as low-dose aspirin or statins
Sometimes you may be recommended to have other treatments to increase the blood flow to your heart. These include percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).
Living with angina
If it's well controlled, there's no reason why you cannot live a normal life with angina.
You can usually continue to do most of your normal activities.
But your healthcare team may recommend you make lifestyle changes as part of your treatment.
These may include:
- having a balanced diet
- cutting down on alcohol
- stopping smoking (if you smoke)
- losing weight (if you have excess weight)
- keeping active - gentle exercises are usually safe
This can help reduce your risk of heart attacks and strokes.
It's also important to keep a record of what brings on your angina and how often you're having it.
