Angina Pectoris | Symptoms and Prevention
Angina pectoris is a symptom of coronary artery disease and is not a disease in itself. It is also called ischemia.
The angina patient feels pain in the chest as a result of the lack of blood flow to the heart muscle, and it must be taken into account that not all chest pain comes from angina pectoris, as heartburn and reflux of the esophagus may cause chest pain.
Angina pectoris Types:
Types of angina pectoris can be divided into:
1- Stable angina:
Stable angina is considered one of the most common types of angina pectoris. It occurs as a result of exertion and goes away with rest.
It occurs as a result of narrowing or blockage of one of the coronary arteries of the heart.
This narrowing or blockage hinders the blood flow that the heart needs when exerting forcefully, as the heart needs a greater amount of oxygen when exerting. effort and thus more blood flow.
2- Unstable angina:
Unstable angina is the most dangerous type of angina pectoris and is considered an emergency medical condition that requires immediate medical attention.
Unstable angina pectoris is not associated with physical exertion, it can occur at rest, and it is an indicator that precedes the occurrence of a heart attack.
Unstable angina can occur, as we mentioned earlier, during rest, and it can also occur during sleep as a result of blockage of one of the coronary arteries due to fatty accumulation on its walls in what is known as atherosclerosis, which impedes blood flow to the heart.
3- Microvascular angina:
Microvascular angina occurs as a result of a defect that affects the smallest vessels in the coronary arteries, which causes a decrease in blood flow to the heart due to spasm of that small vessel.
4- Prinzmetal's angina:
It is also called angina pectoris, which is contrary to the usual, and it occurs as a result of spasms in the coronary arteries that feed the heart with blood, and it is very painful and occurs during rest, especially late at night and after dawn.
Symptoms of Angina pectoris:
Symptoms of angina pectoris vary according to the type of angina, as follows:
Symptoms of Stable angina:
Symptoms of stable angina pectoris include: Feeling pain and pressure in the center of the chest, feeling pain in the jaws, neck, arms or back, which lasts less than 5 minutes and goes away with rest or taking medication.
Symptoms of Unstable angina:
Symptoms of unstable angina pectoris include:
Feeling severe pain in the middle of the chest without exerting effort, this pain does not go away with rest or medication.
The feeling of pain lasts for a longer period than stable angina pectoris, which may reach half an hour, and is considered an indication of the occurrence of a heart attack.
Symptoms of Microvascular angina:
Symptoms include: pain in the middle of the chest that lasts about 15 minutes and may reach half an hour, the pain is stronger than other types of angina pectoris, it causes shortness of breath with a feeling of exhaustion, lethargy and difficulty sleeping.
Symptoms of Prinzmetal's angina:
Symptoms include severe pain in the center of the chest caused by spasms, which occurs late at night or the early hours of the morning, and is relieved by taking the drug.
Risk Factors of angina pectoris:
There are many risk factors that increase the possibility of angina pectoris:
- Age: It affects men over forty and women over fifty.
- Family medical history.
- Smoking.
- Obesity.
- Diabetes.
- High blood Pressure.
- High cholesterol.
Complications of angina pectoris:
Angina pectoris may lead to cardiomyopathy, irregular heartbeat, and heart attack.
Diagnosis of angina pectoris:
Angina is diagnosed by performing a number of procedures and examinations for the patient, including the following:
- EKG with exertion.
- Electrocardiography.
- CT scan.
- X ray.
- Blood analysis.
Angina pectoris treatment:
- Follow a healthy diet and lifestyle.
- Take medicines that treat angina pectoris when it occurs, as well as medicines that prevent angina.
- Performing surgeries.
Prevention of angina pectoris:
- Reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease. The type and quantity of food eaten affects other controllable risk factors, such as cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, and weight gain. It is also necessary to coordinate the diet with the level of physical activity.
- Choose a diet that encourages vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, poultry, fish, legumes, and nuts, and limits sweets, sugar-sweetened beverages, and red meat.
- Stop smoking and avoid passive smoking, such as frequenting smokers' places.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- do regular physical activity; At least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week can help lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and keep weight at a healthy level.
It should be noted, dear visitors of our website, that the article and the information mentioned in it do not replace the need to consult a doctor.... Stay Healthy.
