You may need to have several tests to diagnose angina.
What happens at your GP visit
If you see a GP after an attack of chest pain, they may ask about:
- your symptoms
- what you were doing when the symptoms started
- your lifestyle - for example, your diet and if you smoke or drink
- your family's medical history - heart problems can run in families
They may also:
- check your blood pressure
- calculate your body mass index (BMI) - this involves measuring your weight and height
- measure your waist size
This is to see if you are at risk of a heart problem.
If your GP thinks you might have angina or another heart problem, they may refer you to hospital or a cardiologist for tests.
Tests in hospital
You may have tests to check if you have angina. The doctors will assess your risk of more serious problems such as heart attacks or stroke.
You may have:
- computerised tomography (CT) coronary angiogram - a scan which takes images of your coronary arteries to check for narrowing or blockages
- coronary angiography - an invasive test which takes an image of your coronary arteries
- electrocardiogram (ECG) - a test to check your heart's rhythm and electrical activity
- exercise ECG - an ECG while you're walking on a treadmill or using an exercise bike
- an x-ray of your heart
- blood tests
What happens if you have angina
What happens next depends on the type of angina you're diagnosed with.
There are 2 main types of angina:
- stable angina (more common ) - may be triggered by stress or exercise, and the pain stops with rest and medicine
- unstable angina (more serious) - may not have a trigger and can continue even if you rest
If you have stable angina, your doctor will prescribe medicines. Angina medicines reduce the risk of attacks and treat them when they happen. If your angina persists, you may need to have treatment for the narrowings or blockages in your arteries.
If you have unstable angina, you may need to stay in hospital for tests. This is to find out your risk of another attack and decide the best treatment.
