What Is Angina?

What is angina? Angina pectoris is a condition that occurs when there is a temporary reduced supply of oxygen-rich blood flow to the heart muscle. Angina is typically caused by blockage from one or more of your coronary arteries, which reduces blood flow to your heart. The primary symptom of angina is discomfort in or around the chest, shoulders, jaw, neck, back, or arms.

 

What Is Angina?

Angina, or angina pectoris, refers to symptoms such as chest pain or discomfort caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. More than 6 million people in the United States have angina.
 
There are three types of angina -- stable angina, unstable angina and variant angina (also known as Prinzmetal's angina). The most common types of angina are stable angina and unstable angina. Variant angina is rare.
 

What Causes Angina?

The heart is a muscle that gets blood from vessels called the coronary arteries. If one or more of your coronary arteries has a blockage that reduces blood flow to your heart muscle from time to time, you may experience angina. Angina is your heart's way of saying that it needs more oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to work properly.
 
Narrowed and blocked arteries are usually from coronary artery disease, which occurs because of a gradual buildup of fatty deposits inside the arteries called plaque. This process is called atherosclerosis.
 
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.
 

What Are Angina Symptoms?

People with angina usually feel discomfort (often a pressure-like pain) in or around the:
 
 
  • Chest
  • Shoulders
  • Jaw
  • Neck
  • Back
  • Arms.
 
It may feel like a squeezing, pressing sensation in the chest. Angina pain is usually caused and made worse by exercise and eased by rest.
 
Not all chest discomfort is angina. Other conditions that can cause symptoms similar to angina include:
 
(What Is Angina? Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD