Verified By Apollo Hospitals September 17, 2024
Angina is not a disease but usually a symptom of a lurking Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and typically describes the excruciating and tightening pain and discomfort in the chest around the heart muscles when they do not receive enough oxygenated blood.
Stable angina is usually brought on by exertion and stops with rest. It is usually predictable, short and goes away with angina medication.
Unstable angina on the other hand is a medical emergency which can occur at rest also, is unusual in pattern, comes on suddenly, more severe, may not disappear with angina medicines and may evolve into a heart attack.
Angina must be diagnosed by the following investigations:
Prevention is the best treatment for angina. Though a lot depends upon the cause and include behavior modification like lifelong control of blood pressure levels, cholesterol and diabetes management, no smoking, exercise, medication like aspirin or angioplasty and coronary artery bypass surgery.
Lifestyle changes need to include stopping smoking, weight management, stress reduction, balanced diet and physical activity after clearance with the doctor.
Medical management includes treatment with nitrates, aspirin, clot preventing drugs, beta blockers, statins or calcium channel blockers.
In some cases, procedures, such as angioplasty, stenting and coronary artery bypass surgery, also are used to treat angina.
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