What does an Angina attack feel like?

Question

Over the last several years I have had chest pain, sharp, pinching type, but nothing in my left arm. When I asked the doctors abour it a couple years back, they said I just had "air bubbled" that somehow escaped my lungs and were bursting in the chest cavity. I pretty much ignore it when it happens, roughly every 6-8 months, but it has happened 2X in the last three days which is very unusual. I have a family history of angina problems, and I am 31. Is it possible I am having an attack?

it is happening now....

I don't take any meds for it... I went to the Doc once and they blew it off... I was dealing with Navy Doc, the current one is really caring though even came to house to check on me once...

Answer 1

Any time any one ever mentions chest pain on this forum you always have at least one person pipe up and advise that you rush to the ER. All pain that eminates from the chest is not cardiac in source.

Typical angina is prompted with activity and improved with rest. It often is described as a tightness, a heaviness, or a fullness - occassionally a burning sense (rather than pain at all) in the central chest. (Never sharp pain) There are all sorts of variants to this, however. Neck and jaw sensation, shoulder, arm (more often left but could be either or both), epigastric and midscapular sensations are all possible in conjunction with cardiac symptoms. If you are experiencing cardiac discomfort it is almost always associated with shortness of breath. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, profuse cold sweating, and a sense of "impending doom." Cardiac discomfort also is almost never at a single point - in other words if you can point to the spot that hurts, it is very unlikely to be cardiac. Angina is more generalized.

Additionally we use risk factors to help identify the likelihood of cardiac pain. The big five are: Diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, high blood pressure, and family history of early heart disease. If you have one or none of those risk factors, are a woman in her thirties, and have a sharp pain, then I would not give cardiac sources another thought - it is very, very unlikely.

If you have several of these risk factors then there is no time like the present to start working on them...call you doctor to discuss it.

Good luck.

Answer 2

What Does Angina Feel Like

Answer 3

It feels like someone is sitting on your chest and your lungs can't get any air. The dull ache I had before the Angina was an indicator of the problem that was coming, a full blown attack. I would seek another medical opinion from a Cardiologist if I were you, especially with a family history of Angina.

Answer 4

(Angina Pectoris) Pain or discomfort due to lack of oxygen to the heart muscle. May manifest as pain or discomfort, heaviness, tightness, pressure or burning, numbness aching, tingling in the chest, back, neck, throat, jaw or arms

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.

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.

Answer 5

Angina is temporary pain or discomfort in the chest that occurs when not enough oxygen - carrying blood reaches your heart. ( The term "angina" means "pain," while " pectorals" refers to the chest.)
Sometimes angina feels like heartburn, the similar sensations you may get after eating a heavy meal.
But if you feel this pain regularly it may be a symptom of heart disease.

Angina is the most often sign of heart disease, specifically a blockage of one or more of the main blood vessels. Supplying the heart muscle.
In fact, angina is the most typical symptom of heart disease. In the United States, approximately 6.4 million people suffer from it.
An angina attack occurs when the blocked vessel prevents adequate blood flow, or there is spasm of the vessel leading to decreased blood to the heart muscle.

Usually, angina does not cause any heart damage. Angina is more like a warning signal, and mean you're at greater risk of having a heart attack.

Symptoms
Although they vary from person to person,

. sharp or dull pain, tightness, pressure, or burning sensation in the chest, arms, jaw, or back

. Tingling aching, or numbness in the elbows, or wrists ( especially in the left arm )

. shortness of breath
. perspiration
. Nausea

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What does an Angina attack feel like?
Over the last several years I have had chest pain, sharp, pinching type, but nothing in my left arm. When I asked the doctors abour it a couple years back, they said I just had "air bubbled" that somehow escaped my lungs and were bursting in the chest cavity. I pretty much ignore it...

Answer 7

The sharp, pinching pain sounds more like referred pain from a pinched nerve in your back. I get that a lot. I also have variant angina, esophogeal spasms, and PVC's or premature ventricular contractions, all of which can cause concern.

If you pop your back (Bad habit. Don't start if you don't.) then see if you can pop it back into place. If not, try seeing a chiropractor when it happens.

How long does it last when it happens?

Answer 8

angina attack feel

Answer 9

angina pain is retrosternal chest pain occur after exercise , heavy meal cold wheather ,moving against wind.......feel like band around the chest or heaviness or like breathlessness and relive by rest or drug on more than 15 min. refferd to left arm neck , jaws, right arm......or could occur at any of these sites without chest pain>>>and angina has no relation to family history since it is syndrome , but the cause of it has Link to family history like hypertension , or atherosclerosis >>>> your description of pain need further informations and it may be other causes .

Answer 10

one gets angina if there is reduced blood supply to the heart. there will be pain in the chest behind the sternum and the pain will radiate to the left arm(common), neck or even back. this is because the nerve supply to the heart and the lower boder of the left arm n neck are supplied by the same nerve root. this is called reffered pain.