Angina

Introduction

Angina or Angina Pectoris is a squeezing pain with pressure, heaviness and tightness being felt across the chest particularly behind the breastbone. Angina is actually a symptom of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) namely Myocardial Ischemia (meaning insufficient supply of blood to the myocardial (heart) muscle) with the pain radiating to the neck, jaw, arms, back or even teeth. Other related symptoms include indigestion, heartburn, weakness, sweating, nausea, cramping and shortness of breath.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) occurs due to accumulation of plaque (a sticky fatty material) on the inner walls of the arteries (this process of accumulation of plaque is called atherosclerosis) that carry oxygen rich blood to the muscles of the heart (myocardial muscles). Atherosclerosis leads to narrowing and stiffening of arteries leading to reduced supply of oxygen rich blood to muscles of heart causing heart attacks. (1,2,3,4).

About 7 million people suffer from angina in the US with 350,000 new cases of angina being registered every year. About 1.1 million new and recurrent cases of acute coronary event occur in the US with more than 40% being fatal (1) & (4).

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com

Diagram of atherosclerosis - plaque build up in the arteries which leads to coronary artery disease and symptoms of angina.

Cross cut diagram of cholersterol plaque build up in the artery.

Stent's like this one are inserted into arteries to help keep them open, allowing blood to flow.

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