what is angina?

Lets keep it plain and simple. Angina means pain. Angina pectoris means chest pain. But now a days angina is interchangably used with angina pectoris or chest pain. There are multiple causes for anginal pain. The most common cause is due to a deceased blood supply to the heart. the pain is also caused when the blood supply to the heart is completly blocked in which case the person has a heart attack.

Dr. Mandar Arekar (M.D.- Internal Medicine)

2006-09-03 21:55:41 · answer #1 · answered by doctorininternalmedicine1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋

Angina (an-JI-nuh or AN-juh-nuh) is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when your heart muscle does not get enough blood. Angina may feel like pressure or a squeezing pain in your chest. The pain may also occur in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. It may also feel like indigestion.

Angina is a symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common type of heart disease. CAD occurs when plaque builds up in the coronary arteries. This buildup of plaque is called atherosclerosis. As plaque builds up, the coronary arteries become narrow and stiff. Blood flow to the heart is reduced. This decreases the oxygen supply to the heart muscle.

Types of Angina
The three types of angina are stable, unstable, and variant (Prinzmetal's). It is very important to know the differences among the types.

Stable angina. Stable angina is the most common type. It occurs when the heart is working harder than usual.
There is a regular pattern to stable angina. After several episodes, you learn to recognize the pattern and can predict when it will occur.
The pain usually goes away in a few minutes after you rest or take your angina medicine.
Stable angina is not a heart attack but makes it more likely that you will have a heart attack in the future.

Unstable angina. Unstable angina is a very dangerous condition that requires emergency treatment. It is a sign that a heart attack could occur soon. Unlike stable angina, it does not follow a pattern. It can occur without physical exertion and is not relieved by rest or medicine.

Variant angina. Variant angina is rare. It usually occurs at rest. The pain can be severe and usually occurs between midnight and early morning. It is relieved by medicine.

2006-09-03 02:59:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋

Angina is a specific type of chest discomfort caused by inadequate blood flow through the blood vessels (coronary vessels) of the heart muscle (myocardium).

2006-09-05 12:51:29 · answer #3 · answered by doctor asho 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋

angina=chest pain or feeling of a heart attack coming

2006-09-03 02:59:07 · answer #4 · answered by dewdropinn 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋

Angina means pain

If it is ANGINA PECTORIS

It means Chest pain( heart disease is one of the causes)

2006-09-03 02:54:43 · answer #5 · answered by Trailbalzer 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋

It is a scary pain in the chest that can make you think you are having a heart attack. Most of the time it is not really very serious, but some of the time it is the signal that something very serious is wrong, so it's one of those things that requires real testing. Sorry; I know that is expensive and annoying, but it could mean your life.

2006-09-03 03:00:11 · answer #6 · answered by auntb93again 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋

Latin for "squeezing of the chest". Usually by bad blood flow. Your heart muscle isn't getting enough blood - see a doc - do what he says.

2006-09-03 02:56:02 · answer #7 · answered by rab2344 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋

chest pain due to oxygen shortage in heart..

2006-09-06 11:30:26 · answer #8 · answered by vimal.N 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋

i dont know dude...what is angina????????

2006-09-03 02:55:29 · answer #9 · answered by Kush Patel 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋

ur mom

2006-09-03 02:58:53 · answer #10 · answered by lola 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋

10 answers