What is angina and how is it different from a heart attack?!


Question: What is angina and how is it different from a heart attack.?
Answers:
An episode of angina is NOT a heart attack. However, people with angina report having a hard time telling the difference between angina symptoms and heart attack symptoms. Angina is a recurring pain or discomfort in the chest that happens when some part of the heart does not receive enough blood temporarily. A person may notice it during exertion (such as in climbing stairs). It is usually relieved within a few minutes by resting or by taking prescribed angina medicine. People who have been diagnosed with angina have a greater risk of a heart attack than do other people. Visit http://HeartAttackPrevented.blogspot.com...

Health Question & Answer

Hi Sweet Hy,

Angina is a specific type of chest pain, discomfort or tightness in the chest that is caused by a lack of oxygen being supplied to the heart, due to a reduction in the flow of blood to the heart. This is normally due to the build up of fatty deposits in the arteries.

Angina pain is usually triggered by exercise or physical exertion - anything that would cause the heart to call for more oxygen rich blood, and usually goes away if the exertion is stopped.

The chest pain may also be accompanied by shortage of breath or even a feeling of choking. Angina is usually a symptom of coronary heart disease or coronary artery disease, and may indicate an increased risk of heart attack - but it is definitely not a heart attack in itself.

A heart attack occurs when a coronary artery becomes completely blocked, and the heart muscle supplied by that artery starts to die unless the blockage is quickly removed.

The pain of a heart attack is more severe and prolonged than angina - people describe it as a terrible squeezing or crushing feeling in the chest - like someone parked a car on you while you lay in bed - and cannot be relieved by the usual angina treatments. If you are having a heart attack, you may also feel sick, breathless and sweaty, and may vomit. Sometimes, however, there are no symptoms at all.

The most important thing is that ALL chest pain should be investigated urgently by a physician.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes,

Malcolm.

Health Question & Answer

It is pain caused by your heart not beating efficiently...usually caused but not always by an underlying heart disease or condition. People with frequent angina take nitropaste or sub-lingual nitro to relieve the pain..this is prescribed by their doctor. A heart attack happens when a part of the heart muscle dies or is dying due to blockage of an artery that feed the heart muscle. It can be total blockage or just partial.Health Question & Answer



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