Myocardial ischemia, also called angina, refers to symptoms (such as chest pain or discomfort) caused by reduced blood flow to the heart.
Angina may feel like pressure or a squeezing pain in your chest. The pain may also occur in your:
- Shoulders
- Arms
- Neck
- Jaw
- Back.
Most people with angina have
coronary artery disease, with narrowed arteries due to
atherosclerosis. When arteries are narrowed, blood flow to the heart is reduced. More than 6 million people in the United States have this condition.
The three types of myocardial ischemia have different symptoms and treatment options:
- Stable angina occurs when the heart is working harder than usual and generally goes away with rest
- Unstable angina is dangerous and requires emergency treatment
- Variant angina occurs at rest and can be relieved by medicine.
(Click Angina for more detailed information on what myocardial ischemia is, including risk factors for developing this condition.)
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