Angina Pectoris Symptoms

Published at 23 September 2024

Angina is a term used to describe chest pain, meaning it is not a disease, but rather a symptom that occurs as a result of a lack of blood supply to the heart.

This often occurs due to narrowing of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart, known as coronary artery disease.

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Angina Pectoris Symptoms

Angina symptoms vary in nature and severity from one person to another, and may be slightly different in women, but the most prominent symptom is pain or discomfort in the chest. Some people feel it as pressure, heaviness, or tightness in the middle of the chest, while others may feel it as a burning sensation, or annoying indigestion, and others may not feel it much, and often angina is more like feeling pressure or a heavy load on the chest than pain.

Angina pectoris is characterized by the fact that it appears at times when the heart needs to exert greater effort, such as: physical effort or exercise, psychological stress, eating a fatty meal, smoking, or sudden exposure to extremely cold or hot weather, and it lasts for a short period of 5 minutes or Less, then improves with rest, although it may sometimes occur at rest (called unstable angina). (3)(4)

It is sometimes difficult for the patient to determine the location of pain or discomfort in angina, as it may begin in the middle of the chest behind the bones of the rib cage, or it may be felt in other places, especially the left side of the body, such as the shoulder, arm, back, jaw, or neck as well. (2)(3)

If the chest pain continues for more than 10 minutes, you must call an ambulance immediately because this may be a sign that you are suffering from an ischemic heart attack. Al-Ahli Hospital has an Emergency Department that is fully equipped and prepared to deal with all conditions, so contact the hospital to obtain treatment as soon as possible.

Other symptoms

Angina may be associated with other symptoms in addition to chest pain/discomfort, including: (2)

Shortness of breath.
Extreme fatigue.
Dizziness or vertigo.
Nausea.
Profuse sweating.
Generalized physical weakness (Asthenia).

These symptoms called atypical symptoms of angina, are often misleading and resemble symptoms of many other health conditions. So, if someone feels any of these symptoms and suspects angina, they should seek immediate medical care and contact with their doctors to obtain a proper assessment.

Do angina symptoms differ in women from men?

The symptoms of angina are essentially the same between men and women, including pain or pressure in the chest area, but women are more likely than men to experience atypical (misleading) symptoms of angina, such as: nausea, shortness of breath, and dizziness. They may also feel angina pain in other places instead of the middle of the chest, such as the arm, neck, back, jaw, or abdomen. (2)(5)

What to do if you have angina?

If you feel symptoms similar to angina, and this is your first time, follow these steps: (6)

Take a break, and stop what you are doing.
If your symptoms improve, book your next appointment with your doctor to find out what is causing them, and take any measures that will help you avoid any risks in the future.
If your symptoms persist for more than a few minutes, even with rest, call an ambulance immediately, as you may be having a heart attack.
If you have aspirin available in your home, chew one pill while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

If you have been diagnosed with angina, and this is not your first time, follow these steps:

Take a break and stop what you are doing.
Use nitroglycerin prescribed by your doctor (sublingual tablets).
Use another dose if your symptoms do not improve within 5 minutes of the first dose.
Call an ambulance immediately if your symptoms do not improve 5 minutes after the second dose.

What is the difference between angina and a heart attack?

Angina is a symptom that may be an indicator of the risk of a heart attack (myocardial infarction).

The main difference between them is the time during which the symptoms persist and their effect on the heart. In angina, the symptoms are temporary and disappear within 5-10 minutes by simply resting or using medications, and usually do not cause permanent damage to the heart. As for a heart attack, symptoms last for a long time and may lead to serious damage to the heart muscle due to a blocked coronary artery, which is a condition that requires immediate treatment.(7)