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Patient Information

Angina

Dr Sunil Nadar
•
May 30, 2023
•
5 min read
Dr Sandeep Basavarajaiah
•
May 30, 2023
•
5 min read
Dr Hossam Elsayed
•
October 16, 2024
•
5 min read

Angina is chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscles. It's not usually life threatening, but it's a warning sign that you could be at risk of a heart attack or stroke.

With treatment and healthy lifestyle changes, it's possible to control angina and reduce the risk of these more serious problems.

Symptoms of angina

The main symptom of angina is chest pain.

Chest pain caused by angina usually:

  • feels tight, dull or heavy – it may spread to your arms, neck, jaw or back
  • is triggered by physical exertion or stress
  • stops within a few minutes of resting

Sometimes there might be other symptoms, like feeling sick or breathless.

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What are the treatment options?

Types

There are 2 main types of angina you can be diagnosed with:

  • stable angina (more common) – attacks have a trigger (such as stress or exercise) and stop within a few minutes of resting
  • unstable angina (more serious) – attacks are more unpredictable (they may not have a trigger) and can continue despite resting

Some people develop unstable angina after having stable angina.

Treatment for angina

You'll probably need to take several different medicines for the rest of your life.

You may be given medicine to:

  • treat attacks when they happen (only taken when needed)
  • prevent further attacks
  • reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes

If medicines are not suitable or do not help, an operation to improve blood flow to your heart muscles may be recommended.

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