Are you experiencing chest tightness or pain? This could be angina!

Have you ever felt a tightness, heaviness, or pain in your chest? Many of us think that this is gastritis. But not all chest pain is gastritis. This can be a very important signal that your heart is giving you. Today we are talking about this condition called angina, which is common among many people, but is not exactly known.

Simply put, what is angina?

Think of our heart as a motor that works non-stop. This motor needs a constant supply of blood to work properly. This blood is what supplies the heart muscles with the oxygen and nutrients they need. If for some reason, the blood vessels that carry blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked, the amount of blood that reaches the heart becomes insufficient. At that time, the heart muscles send a signal saying, 'Oh, I don't have enough blood, I'm having trouble.' That signal is what we feel as chest pain, tightness, or discomfort .

Angina is not actually a disease. It is a symptom of an underlying heart disease, especially a blockage in the blood vessels of the heart. It is like a warning bell. If ignored, it can lead to dangerous conditions like a heart attack or cardiac arrest .

What does angina pain feel like?

Most people feel angina as a pressure or pain in the chest. But not everyone feels the same. Some people feel a vague discomfort rather than pain. It can be like this:

• Feeling like your chest is being squeezed.
• A feeling of tightness, of being stuck.
• Feeling like there is something heavy on your chest.
• A burning sensation in the chest (some people confuse this with gastritis).

This discomfort is not limited to the chest. Sometimes, this pain can spread to the jaw, teeth, shoulders, arm (especially the left arm), or back .

This pain may be accompanied by several other symptoms. These include:

• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Feeling weak
• Flatulence or bloating
• Nausea or stomach discomfort
• Feeling like you're getting cold
• Skin that is paler than usual
• Feeling very scared and anxious for no reason

What are the main types of angina?

There are four main types of angina. It is important to be aware of these because they are different from each other.

How is the severity of angina measured?

Doctors use a scale of 1 to 4 to rate the severity of your angina. The higher the number, the more severe the condition.

• Level 1: Angina only occurs when you are doing strenuous, physically demanding exercise. It does not occur during normal activities.
• Level 2: Pain occurs when walking at a fast pace or climbing stairs. It can also occur after eating a full meal and walking for a short while. It can also occur in cold weather, wind, or severe stress.
• Level 3: Pain occurs even when walking a short distance at a normal pace.
• Level 4: Pain occurs with any physical activity. Sometimes pain can occur even when just doing nothing.

What are the main causes of angina?

The main cause of angina is reduced blood flow to the heart. This can have several causes:

• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): This is the most common and leading cause. The blood vessels that supply blood to the heart (coronary arteries) become narrowed from the inside by deposits of cholesterol and fatty substances (plaque). This restricts blood flow.
• Coronary Microvascular Disease: This condition can occur due to damage to the very small blood vessels in the heart.
• Coronary Artery Spasm: A sudden, severe constriction (narrowing) of the blood vessels in the heart, which can occur even in people without CAD.

Who is at higher risk of developing angina?

Your risk of developing angina may increase with these factors:

• Age: Men over 45 and women over 55 are at higher risk.
• Risk factors for heart disease: High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, a family history of heart disease, and obesity are all factors that increase the risk.
• Severe Anemia: When the number of healthy red blood cells that carry oxygen in the body decreases, the heart also suffers from a lack of oxygen.
• Other heart diseases: Conditions like heart valve disease and heart failure cause the heart to work harder, which can also cause angina.
• Exposure to harmful substances: Smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke, and drug use greatly increase the risk.

What are the treatments for angina?

Angina treatment has two main goals. One is to control the pain, and the other is to treat the underlying heart disease and reduce the risk of a heart attack. This is achieved by using a combination of several treatments.

1. Medicines

Your doctor will prescribe various medications to control angina.

• Nitroglycerin: This is a medication that is given to quickly relieve angina pain. It is usually given as a tablet to be placed under the tongue.
• Beta-blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers: These help control angina in the long term and widen blood vessels to improve blood flow to the heart.

2. Medical procedures and surgeries (Procedures)

If your heart's blood vessels are very narrow or blocked, your doctor may recommend something like this:

• Angioplasty and Stenting: This involves inserting a small balloon into the narrowed blood vessel and inflating it to widen the vessel. Then, a small mesh-like structure called a stent is placed inside to prevent the vessel from narrowing again.
• Bypass Surgery: This involves creating a new path for blood to flow around the blockage, that is, creating a new blood vessel.

3. Lifestyle changes (Changes to Your Daily Habits)

This is the most important part of the treatment.

• Heart-healthy diet: Eat foods low in oil, salt, and sugar. Include more vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains in your diet.
• Exercise: Ask your doctor what exercises are safe and suitable for you, and do them.
• Avoid smoking: If you smoke, stop immediately.
• Limiting alcohol.

When should you see a doctor?

This is very important. There are times when you need to go to a hospital immediately, and there are times when you need to see your doctor.

See your doctor in these cases:

• If you have any questions or concerns about the treatment you are receiving.
• If medications cause side effects.
• If symptoms are new or gradually increasing.

Not everyone falls to the ground clutching their chest like they see in the movies. Sometimes angina can be a very subtle, vague discomfort. It comes and goes so quickly that you might think, "This is no big deal."

But angina is never something to be taken lightly. It's your heart's way of telling you, "I need help." So listen to it. Seek medical attention right away. There are treatments for the conditions that cause angina. The sooner we start treatment, the better.

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