Chest pain is one of the most frightening symptoms that a person can experience. The problem is that not all chest pain is dangerous and not all chest pains are created equal. Some chest pain such as that associated with a heart attack, can be very dangerous. What makes things worse is that each person experiences symptoms differently, so all the possible combinations make discerning the causes very difficult. Sorting these things is difficult enough for an experienced physician, so how are you expected to figure these things out? For those of you that already know what angina feels like, this post may not provide you with much new information.
Angina is a specific type of chest pain usually related to inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle (myocardium). Angina usually occurs when there is blockage in the heart arteries (coronary arteries) although not always. Angina is usually somewhat vague and nondescript. It is so vague that some people, they do not even consider it a pain. Many describe the discomfort as a pressure-like sensation, heaviness, tightness, dullness or fullness. The discomfort is located in the mid-chest or under the left breast. Some women may say it feels like their bra is too tight. Other people feel like they have indigestion. Angina is also active; it likes to move. Some patients report arm tingling or numbness in their shoulder and/or arm. If this happens, the left arm is most common. Some people have throat tightness or jaw pain. Back pain is less common but still occurs.
Angina usually does not work alone. There will frequently be other symptoms that to keep any eye out for. Some of the more common symptoms are shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, nausea and/or vomiting, weakness and cold-sweats. Angina not associated with a heart attack, is often brought on by stressors like exercise, anger and sometimes after eating. Typically it lasts for 5-10 minutes and is relieved by rest. If you take some nitroglycerin, then that usually helps too.
There are some risk factors that make angina more likely like older age, a strong family history of coronary artery disease, a prior history of coronary artery disease, and risk factors such as diabetes that predispose one to coronary artery disease. Unfortunately there are some groups, like diabetics, that may have symptoms that are very atypical or even absent. If you have diabetes, it is important to be vigilant and maintain a high level of suspicion for any unusual symptoms.
If you are having symptoms that may be angina, I strongly advise you to consider:
- Take an aspirin
- Seek medical attention from a trusted health professional.
- If you are having severe pain or pain that lasts longer than 20 minutes, you may want to go to your local emergency department.
If your chest pain is not related to heart blockages then what is if from? I will be following this post shortly with some common causes of noncardiac or non-heart related chest pain.
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I wanted to take a few minutes to list some common risk factors for coronary artery disease
- Older age
- Strong family history of coronary artery disease
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Abnormal cholesterol
- High total cholesterol (hyperlipidemia)
- High bad cholesterol or LDL
- Low good cholesterol or HDL
- Diabetes
- Male gender
- A history of smoking
- Obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Certain autoimmune disorders like lupus
Related articles
- Chest Pain – Part 2 – more chest pains (myheart.net/articles)
- Diabetes and my heart (myheart.net/articles)
- How often should I have a stress test (myheart.net/articles)
- Diastolic heart failure – Part 2 – goals of treatment (myheart.net/articles)
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I’m always paranoid if I ever have a little pain in my chest, but it usually goes away. I’ve never had anything happen but this article was helpful in knowing real symptoms for Angina. I didn’t know that it can move around and cause pains in seemingly unrelated areas. Thanks for all of the information. I feel a little more educated today!
Greetings, I express gratitude for creating this article since I experienced similar symptims lately. Since April this year, I first began experiencing palpitations due to regretably lack of proper sleep, proper diet and sleep. Other symptoms were first numbness/tingling all over the body, to my arms throbbing or my left leg tingling. I also felt tightness in my throat, random muscle spasms or feeling my brassiere is too tight. I thought since I felt bubbles in my throat, and at times gas when the palpitations occur, I thought this were GERD. They definitely increase if I eat greasy food.
Hello doc
I wanted information regarding chelation therapy , is it true that chelation therapy can reverse the coronary artery disease? ..chelation therapy involves the intravenous
mixture of biochemical (all safe for the body and in correct dosage) now has shown results of reduction of coronary blockages when passed through the body. These chemicals mainly contain chemicals like Anti-oxidants, EDTA, Vitamins, Isotonic carrier, PH balancing drugs. All of them are injected in the patient through intravenous route for a period of two and half hours to obtain softening of the blockage and a gradual reduction of blockage. The results become apparent within six to ten infusions
My mom thinks she has it it is very hard for her.She is always in pain and she’s always tired and stressed and it’s very hard .This site is very reliable I think you should use it if you’re going through the same thing.
Same things happens to me only i suffer from sever broncitis.
Hello, I’ve gone through a really bad chest infection and these really bad sharp pains on my ribs underneath my breasts mostly and also have these tiny bubbling feelings in my chest, feels like as if I’m bloated but it’s constantly there, and emerge doctors won’t really do anything to help, so now I’m desperate to find answers and I do come from a long line of heart problems in my family. Just need some suggestions or opinions I’m tired of feeling like this, I can’t even do anything I need help
Wow my wife is going through something just like yours, she said it feel like something is moving around in her chest and it’s real sharp pain,every time we go to the emergency room,they don’t find anything, what do you you for yours
Has imaging been performed? Cat scan?
If local cardiologists can’t help, go to the bigger hospitals in big cities.
Good Luck!
Useful article.