What is angina?
What are its sign and symptoms?
What is its management?
Angina, also known as angina pectoris, is a cardiovascular condition characterized by chest pain or discomfort. It occurs when the heart muscle is not receiving enough blood and oxygen due to narrowed or blocked coronary arteries.
The symptoms of angina can vary but commonly include:
1. Chest pain or discomfort: This is the primary symptom and is typically described as a tight, squeezing, burning, or heavy feeling in the chest. The pain may also radiate to the arms, neck, jaw, shoulder, or back.
2. Shortness of breath: Patients may experience difficulty breathing, especially during physical activity or times of stress.
3. Fatigue: Angina can cause feelings of extreme tiredness or weakness.
4. Nausea: Some individuals may experience feelings of nausea or even vomiting.
5. Sweating: Profuse sweating, often accompanied by cold and clammy skin.
6. Dizziness: Patients may feel lightheaded or dizzy.
7. Anxiety: Angina attacks can cause anxiety or a sense of impending doom.
The management of angina typically involves both lifestyle changes and medical interventions. Here are some common approaches:
1. Medication: Doctors may prescribe nitroglycerin, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, or other medications to relieve symptoms, relax blood vessels, reduce blood pressure, and prevent further complications.
2. Lifestyle modifications: Adopting a healthy lifestyle is crucial. This includes quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol, regular exercise, managing stress, and controlling other risk factors like hypertension and diabetes.
3. Cardiac rehabilitation: Supervised exercise programs and education to improve cardiovascular health may be recommended.
4. Angioplasty or bypass surgery: In severe cases where medications and lifestyle changes are insufficient, surgical procedures like angioplasty (to open narrowed arteries) or bypass surgery (to redirect blood flow using grafts) may be required.
It is important for individuals experiencing symptoms of angina to seek medical attention promptly as untreated angina can lead to heart attack or other cardiovascular complications. The specific management plan will depend on the severity of the condition and the individual's overall health.