Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Angina, also known as angina pectoris, is chest pain or pressure, usually caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle (myocardium). [2] It is most commonly a symptom of coronary artery disease. [2] Angina is typically the result of partial obstruction or spasm of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. [3]
Angina comes from the latin angere, which means to strangle, and pectoris comes from pectus, meaning chest—so angina pectoris loosely translates to “strangling of the chest”, which actually makes a lot of sense, because angina pectoris is caused by reduced blood flow which causes ischemia to the heart muscle, or lack of oxygen to the ...
Variant angina is caused by vasospasm, a narrowing of the coronary arteries due to contraction of the heart's smooth muscle tissue in the vessel walls. [3] In comparison, stable angina is caused by the permanent occlusion of these vessels by atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of fatty plaque and hardening of the arteries. [4]
Individuals experiencing angina characterize the pain in different ways, but the pain is usually described as crushing, squeezing, or burning. [7] Symptoms may worsen over the course of several minutes. [4] Typical angina is aggravated by physical activity or emotional stress and is relieved by rest or nitroglycerin. [4]
Chest pain with features characteristic of cardiac origin (angina) can also be precipitated by profound anemia, brady-or tachycardia (excessively slow or rapid heart rate), low or high blood pressure, severe aortic valve stenosis (narrowing of the valve at the beginning of the aorta), pulmonary artery hypertension and a number of other conditions.
However, taking steps to support your heart health can help you lower your risk of many types of cardiovascular disease, such as stroke or heart attacks. This article originally appeared on Hims ...
Information card published by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute urging people with symptoms of angina to call the emergency medical services.. Because of the relationship between the duration of myocardial ischemia and the extent of damage to heart muscle, public health services encourage people experiencing possible acute coronary syndrome symptoms or those around them to ...
Coronary vasospasm classically produces chest pain at rest, also known as variant angina (vasospastic angina or Prinzmetal's angina). [5] Chest pain is more common at certain times of the day, usually from late night to early morning. [6] These episodes can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, cold sweating, and even syncope.