Angina Pectoris

Angina Pectoris – is chest pain or discomfort that typically occurs during
activity or while under stress. Pain occurs when the heart is not receiving enough oxygen rich blood, usually building in intensity for a few minutes before going away.

Causes

• Coronary heart disease
• Atherosclerosis
• Blood clots
• Hyperthyroidism
• Anemia
• Physical or emotional exertion

Symptoms

• Pain in the chest, arms, back, jaw, neck, or shoulder
• Dizziness
• A feeling of indigestion
• Nausea
• Palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue

Diagnosis:

• History of pain
• Electrocardiogram
• Exercise stress test
• Stress echocardiogram
• Nuclear stress test

Treatment Options:

• Low fat diets like the Mediterranean diet or low carbohydrate diets
• Supervised aerobic exercise
• Medication for cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood clot prevention
• Cardiac catheterization with procedures like angioplasty or stenting (help blood flow)
• Coronary artery bypass surgery

Importance: angina pectoris indicates the presence of heart disease, which can be serious if left untreated

• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Arrhythmias
• Sudden death