Angina and Care

Angina (an-gin-uh) pectoris (pek-tor-is) is chest pain that happens when your heart does not get enough oxygen. The pain is usually caused by a blockage or spasm of the arteries in the heart. You could have a heart attack if your angina is not treated.

Causes: Angina pectoris is usually caused by narrowing or blockage of the arteries that supply your heart with oxygen-rich blood. Your heart may not get the oxygen it needs when these arteries become narrowed or blocked. This causes chest pain or angina. Caregivers will work with you to find out the cause and treatment for your angina.

Signs and Symptoms of Angina: You may have stable or unstable angina.

  • Stable Angina

    • The most common symptom of stable angina is chest pain. The pain may start below the breast bone on the left side of your chest. It may feel crushing, tight, or heavy. It may move to the neck, jaw, shoulders, back, or inner arms. You may have pain under the breast bone that feels like indigestion (burning). The pain often starts slowly and may only last a few minutes or up to 30 minutes.


    • Stable angina may be caused by cold air, too much caffeine, or getting upset. Physical work like walking or shoveling snow can also cause stable angina. Angina may feel different to each person. Rest or medicine usually makes stable angina go away.

  • Unstable Angina:
    •  Unstable angina is a new angina that happens more often. It is chest pain that hurts more every time it returns, or moves to different places. Unstable angina starts easier with less cause. It may start while you are resting or exercising. After resting you may still have pain. Unstable angina is a warning that you may be at risk for a heart attack.

Care:

  • You may be treated with medicine that opens up the heart arteries if you have stable angina. This medicine may help your heart get more oxygen. It may also lessen the amount of oxygen your heart needs. Heart medicine may lessen your pain and how often you have the pain.
  • You may need to be put in the hospital if you have unstable angina. Your heart activity will be closely watched and you may be given pain medicine. At some point, you may need a stress test which is done to watch your heart during exercise. Or, you may need a cardiac catheterization (kath-uh-ter-i-za-shun) which shows if there are blockages in the arteries of your heart. You may need an angioplasty (an-g-o-plah-stee). This is a balloon which can open a blocked heart artery. Surgery may be needed if your heart arteries stay blocked.

Eat healthy foods and stop smoking. Start to exercise when your caregiver says it is OK. Exercise may help to keep you from having angina. Take the medicines given to you by your caregivers. Learn new ways to control stress and the things that upset you. Ask caregivers to help you make these changes in your life. You must call your caregiver if you still have pain after taking your heart medicine. Ask for the CPR CareNote and encourage family members to learn how to do CPR.

  • Angina and Heart Care

    • How to take care of goog heartHeart Healthy Following the 6 steps of healing, Susun Weed uses Wise Woman Ways to keep your heart healthy. "Open your heart to me, my own," whispers Grandmother Growth so softly you aren't certain you hear her. "Open the wisdom way of compassion here in your heart and draw me in

  • Heart Info Heart News and Information.

    • HeartInfo.org provides the latest news and information on cardiovascular conditions, diseases, and treatments, fitness and nutrition tips, women's health, risk factors, heart-health tools and quizzes, clinical trials, and tests.HeartInfo.org provides the latest news Information on cardiovascular conditions, diseases, and treatments fitness and nutrition tips, women's health, risk factors, heart-health tools and quizzes, clinical trials, and tests.HeartInfo.org provides the latest news and information on cardiovascula

  • New article in Angina

    • New article in AnginaNew article in Angina, New article in Angina New article in Angina New article in Angina New article in Angina New article in Angina New article in Angina New article in Angina New article in Angina New article in Angina New article in Angina New article in Angina New article in Angina New article i

  • Fourth Article In Angina

    • Fourth Article In AnginaFourth Article In Angina, Fourth Article In Angina Fourth Article In Angina Fourth Article In Angina Fourth Article In Angina Fourth Article In Angina Fourth Article In Angina Fourth Article In Angina Fourth Article In Angina Fourth Article In Angina Fourth Article In Angina Fourth Article I

 

Topic Information

Mens Health

  • Favorites