Angina Summary Angina is chest pain or discomfort you feel when there is not enough blood flow to your heart muscle. Your heart muscle needs the oxygen that the blood carries. Angina may feel like pressure or a squeezing pain in your chest. It may feel like indigestion. You may also feel pain in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. Angina is a symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common heart disease. CAD happens when a sticky substance called plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart, reducing blood flow. There are three types of angina: Stable angina is the most common type. It happens when the heart is working harder than usual. Stable angina has a regular pattern. Rest and medicines usually help. Unstable angina is the most dangerous. It does not follow a pattern and can happen without physical exertion. It does not go away with rest or medicine. It is a sign that you could have a heart attack soon. Variant angina is rare. It happens when you are resting. Medicines can help. Not all chest pain or discomfort is angina. If you have chest pain, you should see your health care provider. NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Specifics Acute Coronary Syndrome American Heart Association Cardiac Syndrome X Texas Heart Institute Microvascular Angina American Heart Association Prinzmetal’s Angina, Variant Angina and Angina Inversa American Heart Association Unstable Angina American Heart Association What Is a Coronary Artery Spasm? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Encyclopedia Acute coronary syndrome Angina – what to ask your doctor Apolipoprotein B100 Apolipoprotein CII Coronary artery spasm Echocardiogram Stress echocardiography Find an Expert American Heart Association American Heart Association National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Start Here Angina Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Angina American Academy of Family Physicians Angina National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Angina (Chest Pain) American Heart Association Angina Pectoris (Stable Angina) American Heart Association Array Angina – discharge Angina – when you have chest pain Coronary angiography Electrocardiogram Living with heart disease and angina Stable angina Unstable angina Women Angina in Women Can Be Different Than Men American Heart Association Treatments and Therapies Angina Treatment — Medical Versus Interventional Therapy (Beyond the Basics) UpToDate Angina Treatment: Stents, Drugs, Lifestyle Changes — What’s Best? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research How Is Angina Treated? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Medications for Angina (Beyond the Basics) UpToDate Nitrates Texas Heart Institute Transmyocardial Laser Revascularization Texas Heart Institute Treating High Blood Pressure: Is a Beta-Blocker Drug Right for You? Consumers Union of U.S. Treating High Blood Pressure: Is a Calcium Channel Blocker Drug Right for You? Consumers Union of U.S. Diagnosis and Tests Cardiac Catheterization National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Chest Pain Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research CK-MB Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Coronary Angiography National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) Array Echocardiography National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Electrocardiogram National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute How Is Angina Diagnosed? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Radionuclide Ventriculography or Radionuclide Angiography (MUGA Scan) American Heart Association Stress Testing National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Troponins Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Reference Desk Cardiovascular Glossary Texas Heart Institute Heart and Stroke Encyclopedia American Heart Association Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Angina Pectoris National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Microvascular Angina National Institutes of Health Statistics and Research Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2014 Update American Heart Association Prevention and Risk Factors How Can Angina Be Prevented? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Who Is at Risk for Angina? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Living With Living with Angina National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Journal Articles Angina Symptoms What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Angina? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Related Issues What Causes Angina? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
