What acute angina means

The word acute describes the episode's onset, not whether the cause is harmless or severe. Pressure, squeezing, heaviness or tightness may be felt in the chest and can spread to an arm, shoulder, neck, jaw, back or upper abdomen. Breathlessness, sweating or nausea may accompany it.

Angina occurs when the heart muscle's demand for oxygen exceeds the supply available through its arteries. Exertion, emotional stress or cold conditions may trigger a familiar pattern that eases with rest or prescribed medicine. Discomfort that starts at rest, lasts longer than usual, becomes more frequent or no longer responds as expected may represent unstable angina or a heart attack.

Chest symptoms have several possible causes, and their character alone cannot reliably distinguish them. An examination and tests such as an electrocardiogram help clinicians assess the heart rhythm and look for signs of reduced blood flow or heart muscle injury.

Stop activity, sit in a supported position and remain as calm as possible. If you have a clinician-provided angina action plan and prescribed medicine for attacks, use it exactly as directed. Do not drive yourself for medical assessment when symptoms are new, severe or behaving differently from your established pattern.

Once urgent causes have been excluded, treatment may include medicines that reduce the heart's workload, improve blood flow or lower cardiovascular risk. Blood pressure treatment and statin therapy are prescribed according to the person's diagnoses and overall risk rather than from the symptom alone.

Call emergency services for new or severe chest pressure, discomfort at rest, symptoms that persist despite following your angina plan, or pain accompanied by breathlessness, sweating, faintness, vomiting or a sense of impending collapse. Do not wait to see whether the episode becomes a familiar pattern.

Arrange prompt medical review when established angina occurs with less activity than before, happens more often or limits daily tasks increasingly. That change can signal poorer blood flow and may require an updated ECG, medicine review or further cardiac assessment.

Ask whether your symptoms fit stable angina, which tests are needed and what should count as a changed pattern for you. Request clear instructions for prescribed attack medicine, including what to do if it does not work as expected. Discuss whether blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, diabetes or activity goals need attention.