Causes of Angina: An Introduction
Angina pectoris, or angina for short, is caused by a temporary lack of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. This decrease in blood flow can happen for a number of reasons, and will vary based on the type of angina. The most common cause of angina is
coronary artery disease (CAD), or what most people refer to as just
heart disease. Sometimes, other
types of heart disease (such as
aortic stenosis) or uncontrolled
high blood pressure can cause angina. There are also a number of factors that can trigger an angina attack.
Causes of Angina: Understanding Blood Flow to the Heart
In order to understand the causes of angina, it is often helpful to understand the heart and the coronary arteries.
Like any muscle, the heart needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients, which are carried to it by the blood in the coronary arteries. Similar to other muscles, the harder the heart is working, the more oxygen and nutrients it needs. However, the coronary arteries can become narrowed or clogged, which can decrease the amount of blood that goes to the heart muscle. When the coronary arteries cannot supply enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart,
angina symptoms can occur.
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