What is angina?

Angina (say "ANN-juh-nuh" or "ann-JY-nuh") is a symptom that happens when your heart muscle does not get enough blood and oxygen. People can feel angina in different ways.

Angina can feel like:

• Chest pain or pressure, or a strange feeling in the chest.
• Pain, pressure, or a strange feeling in the back, neck, jaw, or upper belly or in one or both shoulders or arms.
• Shortness of breath.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Lightheadedness or sudden weakness.
• A fast or irregular heartbeat.

Angina often feels like chest pain or pressure or a strange feeling in the chest. Symptoms also include shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, and weakness. You may also have other symptoms like pain or pressure in the back, neck, jaw, upper belly, or in one or both shoulders.

Your doctor will ask about your medical history and do a physical exam. You may have tests to check how well your heart is working and to see if your arteries are narrowed. Examples of tests include an electrocardiogram, an echocardiogram, stress tests, and a CT angiogram.

Angina is treated with a heart-healthy lifestyle and medicine. You may take medicine that prevents or relieves your symptoms. You may also take other medicines to help prevent a heart attack. These include medicines to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. You may choose to have angioplasty or bypass surgery to relieve symptoms.

To manage angina:

• Pay attention to your symptoms. Then you can see what causes them and what is typical for you.
• Know how to prevent or relieve symptoms. Most people can control their symptoms by taking medicine or changing their activities.
• Know when to call your doctor. Call your doctor if your stable angina symptoms seem worse but still follow your typical pattern. You can predict when symptoms will happen, but they may come on sooner, feel worse, or last longer.
• Know when to get help right away. Get help if you have angina symptoms that do not follow your typical pattern. For example, your symptoms may happen at rest or may not go away with nitroglycerin. It may mean you are having a heart attack.