How To Go About Angina Relief

By Larry Foster


Not all chest pains are ordinary. There are some that suggest that heart attack may soon happen if the person does not take precaution. This kind of chest pain is known as angina. Its major cause is the obstruction of a coronary artery or absence/deficiency of oxygen in the blood it supplies. Because the coronary artery is involved, the condition is also referred to as coronary artery disease. It is also called ischemic heart disease as a result of reduced oxygen tension in the heart.

It has been discovered to be the cause of about 37% deaths in the US every year while reports of at least 10 million cases have been recorded. This disease is so bad that it makes the sufferer feel intense pain. The problem reduces when the victim takes a bold step to meet a doctor who is a consultant in angina relief.

The main symptoms are chest pain, sweating, back pain, referred pain on the left shoulder and arm. In females, there are often complaints of abdominal pains. There is often a link between angina and coronary artery disease because it is said to happen when the blood supply to the heart is impeded by narrowed arteries.

Ischaemia happens when there is a low level of oxygen supply to the heart muscles, more especially the myocardium. With low levels of oxygen supply to the heart, nutrients are reduced in supply and metabolites increase in the tissues. Since there is not enough oxygen, the myocardium uses the other alternative, anaerobic metabolism, in order to stay alive. In the end, hydrogen ion and carbon dioxide are produced and these tend to increase the diameter of the coronary arteries so that more oxygen and nutrients can be supplied. The production of these substances also inflicts more pain because of increased stimulation of cardiac neurons.

Coronary artery disease is primarily caused by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the narrowing of the lumen by the deposition of cholesterol on the walls of the vessels. With time, the arterial wall becomes fibrotic and it is referred to as atherosclerotic plaque. Atherosclerotic plaque, over time, can totally occlude blood vessels if allowed.

A less serious type of angina is the stable type. It is one of the four different types namely stable, unstable, variant and microvascular. It is less serious because symptoms don't normally show up when adequate rest is taken. Taking drugs and feeding aright also helps to subdue its manifestation. This means that anything that can increase the heart's workload should be avoided.

To reduce symptoms, cholesterol should be avoided at all costs. This goes for all kinds of angina. The stable type can be treated with vasodilators and glycerol nitrate. The work of the vasodilator is to ensure more oxygen supply to the myocardium.

The worst type of angina is the unstable form. Persons with this have higher risks of heart attack. Sometimes, resting is not even sufficient to calm the symptoms. The most effective forms of treatment for this type are angioplasty and surgery. Abstaining from fat-rich food and cigarette is ideal for its prevention.




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