Angina pectoris is chest pain due to ischemia (a lack of blood and hence oxygen supply) to the heart muscle, generally due to obstruction or spasm of the coronary arteries (the heart's blood vessels). Coronary artery disease, the main cause of angina, is due to atherosclerosis of the cardiac arteries. The term derives from the Greek ankhon ("strangling") and the Latin pectus ("chest"), and can therefore be translated as "a strangling feeling in the chest". Worsening ("crescendo") angina attacks, sudden-onset angin ...

Including:

• Angina - Symptoms
• Angina - Diagnosis
• Angina - Pathophysiology
• Angina - Epidemiology
• Angina - Treatment
• Angina - Unstable angina

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Most patients with angina complain of chest discomfort rather than actual pain, the discomfort is usually described as a pressure, heaviness, squeezing, burning, or choking sensation. Anginal pain may be localized primarily in the epigastrium (upper central abdomen), back, neck, jaw, or shoulders. Typical locations for radiation of pain are arms, shoulders, and neck. Angina typically is precipitated by exertion or emotional stress, and exacerbated by having a full stomach or cold temperatures (the "4 Es": exertion, emotion, eating and extrem ...

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Angina, Angina - Symptoms, Angina - Diagnosis, Angina - Pathophysiology, Angina - Epidemiology, Angina - Treatment, Angina - Unstable angina

Read more here: » Angina: Encyclopedia II - Angina - Symptoms

Physicians distinguish between stable angina, which occurs during exercise or stress, and is relieved with a nitrate spray or tablet (e.g., amyl nitrite), and unstable angina, which occurs at rest, or is unrelieved by the usual medication. A patient with angina that is increasing in frequency or severity is also said to have unstable angina. Unstable angina is very predictive of a heart attack, and requires immediate medical attention. As it is only one of the many potential causes of chest pain, the patient usual ...

See also:

Angina, Angina - Symptoms, Angina - Diagnosis, Angina - Pathophysiology, Angina - Epidemiology, Angina - Treatment, Angina - Unstable angina

Read more here: » Angina: Encyclopedia II - Angina - Unstable angina

The main goals of treatment in angina pectoris are relief of symptoms, slowing progression of the disease, and reduction of future events, especially heart attacks. An aspirin (75 mg to 100 mg) per day has been shown to be beneficial for all patients with stable angina that have no problems with its use. Beta-blockers and nitroglycerin medication are used for symptomatic relief of angina and prevention of ischemic events, and calcium c ...

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Angina, Angina - Symptoms, Angina - Diagnosis, Angina - Pathophysiology, Angina - Epidemiology, Angina - Treatment, Angina - Unstable angina

Read more here: » Angina: Encyclopedia II - Angina - Treatment

In patients with occasional angina who are not having chest pain, an electrocardiogram (ECG) is typically normal, unless there have been other cardiac problems in the past. During pain, depression or elevation of the ST segment may be observed. To elicit these changes, an exercise ECG test ("treadmill test") may be performed, during which the patient exercises to the point that the pain occurs; if the ECG changes are documented, the test is considered diagnostic for angina. Other alternatives include a thallium scintigram (in patients that cannot exert enough for the purposes of the treadmill tests ...

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Angina, Angina - Symptoms, Angina - Diagnosis, Angina - Pathophysiology, Angina - Epidemiology, Angina - Treatment, Angina - Unstable angina

Read more here: » Angina: Encyclopedia II - Angina - Diagnosis

Increases in heart rate result in increased oxygen demand by the heart. The heart has a limited ability to increase its oxygen intake during episodes of increased demand. Therefore, an increase in oxygen demand by the heart (e.g., during exercise) has to be met by a proportional increase in blood flow to the heart. Myocardial ischemia can result from: a reduction of blood flow to the heart caused by the stenosis or spasm of the heart's arteries resistance of the blood vessels reduced oxy ...

See also:

Angina, Angina - Symptoms, Angina - Diagnosis, Angina - Pathophysiology, Angina - Epidemiology, Angina - Treatment, Angina - Unstable angina

Read more here: » Angina: Encyclopedia II - Angina - Pathophysiology