How are heart attacks and angina interrelated?-Corrielus Cardiology

Chest pain is common in both angina and heart attacks, both of which are caused by coronary artery disease. Read more about it here.

Angina is the chest pain caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart. Your body sends out warning signs that the heart is at risk of damage when it doesn't get enough blood. The specific kind of pain you get when your heart is having trouble is called angina.

On the other hand, heart attacks occur when the narrowing is severe or results in a blockage that actually causes damage to the heart muscle. To put it another way, angina is a symptom of a real medical condition known as a heart attack.

Another way to look at it is as follows: When your heart doesn't get enough blood, you get angina, and a heart attack occurs when the heart starts to get real damage from the lack of blood flow.

Differences in appearance between angina and a heart attack 

Angina is the chest pain caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart. Your body sends out warning signs that the heart is at risk of damage when it doesn't get enough blood. The specific kind of pain you get when your heart is having trouble is called angina.

On the other hand, heart attacks occur when the narrowing is severe or results in a blockage that actually causes damage to the heart muscle. To put it another way, angina is a symptom of a real medical condition known as a heart attack.

Another way to look at it is as follows: When your heart doesn't get enough blood, you get angina, and a heart attack occurs when the heart starts to get real damage from the lack of blood flow.

So, how does it feel to have angina?

The following are some typical instances of what is referred to as "typical" angina:

• Pain in the chest that feels like pressure or squeezing and gets better when you rest

• shortness of breath

• other symptoms that you might not be aware 

These are referred to as "atypical" symptoms and include:

Atypical symptoms like fatigue, weakness, nausea, and constipation are more common in diabetics and women. Despite the fact that women can exhibit typical angina symptoms, we have discovered over time that our original conception of how a heart attack feels is more applicable to men than to women.

Angina may be a sign of a heart attack, but if you are having one, the pain may be more severe or occur while you are sleeping. When in doubt, seek immediate medical attention because sometimes it can be difficult to tell the difference. Angina is not always a sign of a heart attack, but it could be, especially if the pain is new, getting worse, or changing.

What sets off angina?

Since the heart muscle doesn't get enough blood, angina can be caused by anything that increases the amount of blood the heart needs. Stress, smoking, and physical activity are all examples of this.

Even if your coronary arteries are narrowed, your heart may be receiving sufficient blood when you are at rest. However, once you begin moving, your heart begins to work harder. You will begin to experience angina if the blood in your coronary arteries is not sufficient to reach your active heart. Stress can also cause angina and make your heart work harder.

A word from the team

In conclusion, having your angina thoroughly evaluated is crucial. Before a heart attack occurs, we must determine whether there is a dangerous issue that needs to be addressed.

We need to start you on the right medications and make some changes to your lifestyle if this isn't a dangerous problem. This will help you feel better and stop the plaques from getting worse. We can even get the plaques to regress, or get smaller over time if the doctor and the patient work together.

If you need further help regarding your health and wellness, contact Corrielus Cardiology today!