Angina Pectoris
Angina Pectoris
Definition of Angina Pectoris
Angina pectoris is a chest pain caused by myocardial ischemia - a condition in which the amount of oxygen going to the heart muscle is insufficient.
It usually occurs on exertion and is relieved by rest.
Description of Angina Pectoris
1. The heart is a muscle (myocardium) and gets its blood supply from the coronary arteries.
2. When the heart does not get enough blood, it can no longer function at its full capacity.
3. When physical exertion, strong emotions, extreme temperatures, or eating increase the demand on the heart, a person with angina feels temporary pain, pressure, fullness, or squeezing in the center of the chest or in the neck, shoulder, jaw, upper arm, or upper back.
4. angina is relieved by removing the stress and/or taking sublingual nitroglycerin.
5. The discomfort of angina is temporary, i.e.it lasts for a few seconds or minutes,
6. Prolonged or untreated angina can lead to a heart attack or a heart rhythm abnormality which can lead to sudden death.
all chest pain is not angina. Pain in the chest can come from a number of causes, For example, chest pain can be caused by:
1. acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD),
2. upper respiratory infection,
3. asthma, or
4. sore muscles and ligaments in the chest (chest wall pain)
5. the heart muscle itself
6. the valves that control blood flow through the heart.
7. ulcers,
8. gallstones,
9. abnormal contractions of the esophagus
10. severe anxiety and panic attacks can cause chest pain.
Angina is classified in one of two types:
1) stable angina
2) unstable angina.
Stable angina
symptoms occur during exertion and commonly last less than five minutes. They are relieved by rest or medication, such as nitroglycerin under the tongue.
Unstable angina
The symptoms occur at rest, and are not relieved by nitroglycerin under the tongue (or the patient needs to use more nitroglycerin than usual). Unstable angina needs an immediate treatment.
Causes
The two main causes of angina are
1. coronary artery spasm
2. atherosclerotic plaque
other causes of chest pain
1. Pleuritis
2. Pericarditis
3. Esophageal spasm and reflux
4. gallstones
5. Anxiety and panic attacks
6. Pneumonia:
7. Pulmonary embolism:
8. Pneumothorax:
9. Mitral valve prolapse:
10. Aortic dissection:
11. rib fractures, muscle strain or spasm
12. Shingles (herpes zoster infection):
The risk factors include:
1. family history of ischemic heart disease
2. smoking
3. high blood pressure, or hypertension
4. high blood cholesterol
5. diabetes
Diagnosis of Angina Pectoris
1. The electrocardiogram (EKG)
2. Exercise stress test
3. Stress echocardiography
4. Cardiac catheterization
5. CT coronary angiogram
Treatment of Angina Pectoris
drugs are recommended for the treatment of angina before surgery. The major drugs used to treat angina are following:
1. Nitrates.
1. nitroglycerine tablets to be slipped under the tongue during or in anticipation of an attack;
2. ointment to be absorbed through the skin
3. long-acting tablets.
4. nitroglycerin sprays..
all relieve angina by reducing the heart muscle's demand for oxygen. Nitroglycerin also relieves spasm of the coronary arteries
2. Beta-blocking Drugs. Beta blockers relieve angina by inhibiting the effect of adrenaline on the heart. Eg. propranolol
3. Calcium-channel Blocking Drugs. Eg. amlodipine
Angioplasty and coronary artery bypass surgery
When there is major coronary blockage then following procedures, which increase coronary artery blood flow, are recommended -
1. cardiac catheterization with coronary arteriography
2. balloon angioplasty
3. coronary artery bypass graft surgery .
Definition of Angina Pectoris
Angina pectoris is a chest pain caused by myocardial ischemia - a condition in which the amount of oxygen going to the heart muscle is insufficient.
It usually occurs on exertion and is relieved by rest.
Description of Angina Pectoris
1. The heart is a muscle (myocardium) and gets its blood supply from the coronary arteries.
2. When the heart does not get enough blood, it can no longer function at its full capacity.
3. When physical exertion, strong emotions, extreme temperatures, or eating increase the demand on the heart, a person with angina feels temporary pain, pressure, fullness, or squeezing in the center of the chest or in the neck, shoulder, jaw, upper arm, or upper back.
4. angina is relieved by removing the stress and/or taking sublingual nitroglycerin.
5. The discomfort of angina is temporary, i.e.it lasts for a few seconds or minutes,
6. Prolonged or untreated angina can lead to a heart attack or a heart rhythm abnormality which can lead to sudden death.
all chest pain is not angina. Pain in the chest can come from a number of causes, For example, chest pain can be caused by:
1. acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD),
2. upper respiratory infection,
3. asthma, or
4. sore muscles and ligaments in the chest (chest wall pain)
5. the heart muscle itself
6. the valves that control blood flow through the heart.
7. ulcers,
8. gallstones,
9. abnormal contractions of the esophagus
10. severe anxiety and panic attacks can cause chest pain.
Angina is classified in one of two types:
1) stable angina
2) unstable angina.
Stable angina
symptoms occur during exertion and commonly last less than five minutes. They are relieved by rest or medication, such as nitroglycerin under the tongue.
Unstable angina
The symptoms occur at rest, and are not relieved by nitroglycerin under the tongue (or the patient needs to use more nitroglycerin than usual). Unstable angina needs an immediate treatment.
Causes
The two main causes of angina are
1. coronary artery spasm
2. atherosclerotic plaque
other causes of chest pain
1. Pleuritis
2. Pericarditis
3. Esophageal spasm and reflux
4. gallstones
5. Anxiety and panic attacks
6. Pneumonia:
7. Pulmonary embolism:
8. Pneumothorax:
9. Mitral valve prolapse:
10. Aortic dissection:
11. rib fractures, muscle strain or spasm
12. Shingles (herpes zoster infection):
The risk factors include:
1. family history of ischemic heart disease
2. smoking
3. high blood pressure, or hypertension
4. high blood cholesterol
5. diabetes
Diagnosis of Angina Pectoris
1. The electrocardiogram (EKG)
2. Exercise stress test
3. Stress echocardiography
4. Cardiac catheterization
5. CT coronary angiogram
Treatment of Angina Pectoris
drugs are recommended for the treatment of angina before surgery. The major drugs used to treat angina are following:
1. Nitrates.
1. nitroglycerine tablets to be slipped under the tongue during or in anticipation of an attack;
2. ointment to be absorbed through the skin
3. long-acting tablets.
4. nitroglycerin sprays..
all relieve angina by reducing the heart muscle's demand for oxygen. Nitroglycerin also relieves spasm of the coronary arteries
2. Beta-blocking Drugs. Beta blockers relieve angina by inhibiting the effect of adrenaline on the heart. Eg. propranolol
3. Calcium-channel Blocking Drugs. Eg. amlodipine
Angioplasty and coronary artery bypass surgery
When there is major coronary blockage then following procedures, which increase coronary artery blood flow, are recommended -
1. cardiac catheterization with coronary arteriography
2. balloon angioplasty
3. coronary artery bypass graft surgery .