Stable angina Health Article

Definition

Stable angina is chest pain or discomfort that typically occurs with activity or stress. The pain usually begins slowly and gets worse over the next few minutes before going away. It quickly goes away with medication or rest, but may happen again with additional activity or stress.

See also: Unstable angina

Alternative Names

Angina - stable; Angina - chronic; Angina pectoris

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Your heart muscle is working all the time, so it needs a continuous supply of oxygen. This oxygen is provided by the coronary arteries, which carry blood.

When the heart muscle has to work harder, it needs more oxygen. Symptoms of angina occur when the coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked by hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), or by a blood clot.

The most common cause of angina is coronary heart disease (CHD). Angina pectoris is the medical term for this type of chest pain.

Stable angina is predictable chest pain. Although less serious than unstable angina, it can be very painful or uncomfortable.

The risk factors for coronary heart disease include:

• Being male
• Diabetes
• Family history of coronary heart disease before age 50
• High blood pressure
• High LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol
• Not getting enough exercise
• Obesity
• Smoking

Anything that requires the heart muscle to need more oxygen can cause an angina attack, including:

• Cold weather
• Exercise
• Emotional tension
• Large meals

Other causes of angina include:

• Abnormal heart rhythms
• Anemia
• Coronary artery spasm (also called Prinzmetal's angina)
• Heart failure
• Heart valve disease
• Hyperthyroidism

Symptoms

The most common symptom is chest pain that occurs behind the breastbone or slightly to the left of it. It may feel like tightness, heavy pressure, squeezing, or crushing pain. The pain may spread to the:

• Arm (usually the left)
• Back
• Jaw
• Neck
• Shoulder

Some people say the pain feels like gas or indigestion.

The pain typically:

• Occurs after activity, stress, or exertion
• Lasts an average of 1 - 15 minutes
• Is relieved with rest or a medicine called nitroglycerin

Angina attacks can occur at any time during the day, but most occur between 6 a.m. and noon.

Other symptoms of angina include:

• A feeling of indigestion or heartburn
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Nausea, vomiting, and cold sweats
• Palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained tiredness after activity (more common in women)