Angina is a pain or discomfort in the chest. It often has a squeezing or pressure-like feel. This discomfort can also be felt in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaws, or back. Anginal pain usually lasts for no more than 2-10 minutes. It is relieved by rest or nitroglycerin.
Types of angina include:
Stable angina—has a predictable pattern. Generally know what brings it on, relieves it, and what the intensity will be.
Unstable angina—is more unpredictable or severe. Chest pain may occur while resting or even sleeping (nocturnal angina). The discomfort may last longer and be more intense than that of stable angina.
Unstable angina may be a sign that you are about to have a
heart attack. It should be treated as an emergency.
Variant or prinzmetal's angina—occurs when you are at rest, most often in the middle of the night. It can be quite severe.
Angina is usually a symptom of
coronary artery disease. It occurs when the blood vessels leading to the heart are blocked. The blockage decreases the blood and oxygen flow to the heart muscle. When the heart muscle is deprived of oxygen you will feel chest pain and other symptoms.
Elderly people, women, and people with diabetes more likely to have atypical or subtle symptoms
Some people have "silent ischemia" and experience no symptoms of chest pain
Chest pain of any kind deserves a medical evaluation to determine its cause
Chest pain or discomfort is the hallmark symptom of angina
When chest discomfort is severe, lasts more than 15 minutes, and is accompanied by other symptoms listed below, then the likelihood of a
heart attack is increased
Pain in the shoulder(s) or arm(s), or into the jaw
Weakness
Sweating
Nausea
Shortness of breath
Diagnosis
Tests will be done right away to see if you are having an episode of angina or a heart attack. If you have a stable pattern of angina, other tests may be done to determine the extent of your disease. The test results will help to create a treatment plan.
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam.
Tests may include:
Blood tests—to look for certain blood markers to determine if you are having a heart attack
Electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG)—a record of the heart's electrical activity, to look for evidence of past heart attacks, acute heart attacks, or heart rhythm problems
Echocardiogram—high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to examine the structure and function of the heart
Exercise stress test—records the heart's electrical activity during increased demand
A medication is used to simulate the effects of physical exertion for those that can not exercise
Nuclear scanning—radioactive material is injected into a vein to highlight areas with low blood flow
Electron-beam CT scan
(coronary calcium scan, heart scan, CT
angiography)—a type of x-ray that uses a computer to make detailed pictures of the heart, coronary arteries, and surrounding structures
Type of
CT scan
measures the amount of calcium deposits in the coronary arteries to determine the risk of heart disease or heart attacks
The American Heart Association (AHA) published guidelines in 2006 indicating that heart scans are not for everyone and are most likely to benefit patients at intermediate risk of coronary artery disease
Coronary angiography—dye is injected into the arteries to highlight abnormalities (narrowing or blockage) in the arteries
Treatment
Treatments for angina include:
Medications
Nitroglycerin—usually given during an attack of angina. It can be given as a tablet that dissolves under the tongue or as a spray.
Longer-lasting types may be used to prevent angina before an activity. The medication may be given as pills, or applied as patches or ointments.
Blood thinners—a small, daily dose of aspirin has been shown to decrease the risk of heart attack.
Patients who have had unstable angina or a heart attack may benefit from the addition of warfarin (eg coumadin). There is an increased risk of bleeding with this medication.
*
Talk to your doctor before taking aspirin daily or warfarin.
Beta-blockers and calcium-channel blockers—used regularly, these medications may reduce the occurrence of angina.
Cholesterol-lowering medications—may prevent the progression of coronary artery disease. They may even improve existing coronary artery disease.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)— lower blood pressure. They are especially beneficial for patients who have had a heart attack in the past. They also decrease the workload on your heart.
Surgery
Patients with severe angina or unstable, progressing angina may benefit from:
American Academy of Family Physicians http://familydoctor.org/
American Heart Association http://www.americanheart.org/
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Cardiovascular Society http://www.ccs.ca/
Canadian Family Physician http://www.cfpc.ca/
REFERENCES:
Dambro MR.
Griffith's 5-Minute Clinical Consult. 2001 ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins;2001.
Dickstein K, Kjekshus J. Effects of losartan and captopril on mortality and morbidity in high-risk patients after acute myocardial infarction: the OPTIMAAL randomised trial.
Lancet.
2002;360:752.
Lopez-Sendon J, Swedberg K, McMurray J, et al. Expert consensus document on angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in cardiovascular disease. The Task Force on ACE-inhibitors of the European Society of Cardiology.
Eur Heart J. 2004;25:1454.
Reenan J. Clinical Pearl: Indications for bypass surgery. American Medical Association website. Available at:
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/11853.html. Accessed November 16, 2006.
What is angina? American Heart Association website. Available at:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3007460. Accessed June 16, 2008.
What is angina? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Available at:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Angina/Angina_WhatIs.html. Accessed June 16, 2008.
*Updated section on Blood Thinners on 7/14/06 according to the following study, as cited by
DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance: Andreotti F, Testa L, Biondi-Zoccai GG, et al. Aspirin plus warfarin compared to aspirin alone after acute coronary syndromes: an updated and comprehensive meta-analysis of 25,307 patients.
Eur Heart J. 2006;27:519-26.
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
