What is the difference between angina and a heart attack

Without enough blood and oxygen, your heart works too hard which triggers angina. Coronary artery spasm Coronary artery spasm is a contraction in the blood vessels that supply the heart.

If the blood vessel is constricted, blood flow to the heart can decrease or even stop. This lack of blood flow can cause angina or heart attack. Uncontrolled high blood pressure Narrowing of the valves in the heart aortic stenosis Enlarged heart hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Symptoms Angina symptoms can vary from person to person, between men and women see below , and by the type of angina you have. The main symptoms of angina are: Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Pain Tightness, pressure or discomfort in the centre of the chest Ache or discomfort in areas other than the chest: jaw, shoulder, arms or back A burning sensation that feels like indigestion or heartburn Burning or cramping pain More common in women — vague pain, pain in the neck or throat Fatigue Be aware Women may describe their angina symptoms differently than men.

They are more likely to experience: vague pain in the centre of the chest pain in the neck or tightness in the throat the feeling of a panic attack, anxiety dizziness, fainting sweating at night fatigue When to call your doctor If you have chest pain that is new, worsening or constant, seek medical care immediately.

You are at greater risk of: heart attack irregular heartbeat arrhythmia cardiac arrest. Diagnosis Your healthcare provider will review your medical history and give you a complete physical exam. Treatment Angina is often controlled with a combination of medication and lifestyle changes. Medication Medication may help prevent or relieve the symptoms of angina. It widens or opens up the coronary arteries. This gets more blood and more oxygen to your heart. If you take nitro, always carry it with you.

Procedures might include: percutaneous coronary intervention PCI also known as angioplasty with stent coronary artery bypass surgery Cardiac rehabilitation Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program designed to help you recover after a heart attack or from other heart conditions. Rehab has two parts: Exercise training to learn how to exercise safely, strengthen muscles and improve stamina.

Education and counselling to learn how to reduce the risk for heart problems in the future. Lifestyle You can lower your risk of developing other heart diseases and stroke by knowing and controlling your blood pressure, diabetes and blood cholesterol.

Be smoke-free. Be more active. Yes, exercise can trigger angina. But moderate physical activity, approved by a healthcare provider, will help your heart health. Aim for a healthy weight. Eat a healthy balanced die t — there are some specific diets you can follow that have been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease. Drink less alcohol. Manage stress. Talk to your doctor about the lifestyle changes that will benefit you the most. Control other medical conditions Take your medications as prescribed for other conditions that can make angina worse: high blood pressure diabetes high blood cholesterol atrial fibrillation Afib.

Find peer support resources here. Download or order our free book Living Well with Heart Disease. Get the latest research news and information, with tips and strategies to help you manage your recovery. However, if your chest pain lasts less than five minutes and goes away after resting, it is likely stable angina.

Simple tests, including a stress test or an electrophysiology study can help you and your cardiologist better understand the status of your heart. There are also a variety of medication and surgery options that can help your heart get ample blood flow, relieve angina pain, and even prevent a cardiac event in the future. Heart Conditions. What is Angina?

Types of Angina Angina can either be classified as stable or unstable. How to Recognize a Heart Attack Heart attacks occur when blood flow to the heart becomes restricted or blocked.

Is it a Heart Attack or Angina? Have A Question? Stable angina is when you get angina symptoms during moderate physical activity or when you are pushing yourself physically. Unstable angina is when you get angina symptoms while doing very little or resting. This can happen to people who have never experienced angina before. If your angina becomes more frequent, severe, lasts longer or happens when you are doing very little or resting, see your doctor in the next 24 hours.

You may need further tests or treatment. The coronary arteries supply blood to your heart muscle by routing it through a network of smaller blood vessels. When a blood flow problem occurs in one or more of the smaller blood vessels supplying blood to your heart, it is called microvascular angina, cardiac syndrome X, or coronary microvascular dysfunction. Because of the reduced size of the blood vessels, it's likely you will be advised to start a combination of medication and lifestyle changes rather than offered a stent or heart bypass surgery.

Women seem to be more likely than men to experience microvascular angina. The reasons for this have not yet been confirmed. Angina is a symptom of coronary artery disease or atherosclerosis. This is a process that is accelerated by a number of factors including unhealthy lifestyle choices such as smoking, poor diet, being overweight, physical inactivity and poor mental health and wellbeing.

Making changes to your risk factors can slow or stop the damage to your arteries and lower your risk of having another heart attack. Browse angina stories. Real stories, healthy recipes and frequently-asked questions from people with heart disease, plus a whole lot more. Science Care News. End of Life Resources. Healthcare professionals. Medical Research. Newsletter signup Stay up-to-date with Science Care, research, and health and wellness tips.

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