What should you know about angina feeling?

Some people describe burning, aching or indigestion-like discomfort rather than pain. The sensation may spread to an arm, shoulder, neck, jaw, back or upper abdomen, and it can occur with breathlessness, sweating, nausea, dizziness or unusual tiredness.

Angina is a symptom of reduced blood flow to heart muscle, commonly because coronary arteries have narrowed. A familiar pattern may appear during walking, climbing stairs, emotional stress or cold weather and ease after rest or prescribed medicine.

Chest discomfort has several possible causes, so sensation alone cannot confirm angina. A clinician considers the pattern, triggers, duration, associated symptoms and cardiovascular history, then may arrange an electrocardiogram or other assessment.

Stop the activity and rest. If you have an angina action plan or prescribed fast-acting medicine, follow its directions exactly. Do not take another person's medicine, and do not drive yourself for emergency assessment.

Keep a record of what you were doing, where the discomfort occurred, how it felt, what accompanied it and what relieved it. Arrange medical review for any new chest tightness, even if it settles, because the cause needs assessment.

Call UAE emergency services immediately for new, severe or persistent chest pressure; discomfort occurring at rest; a pattern that is more frequent or intense than usual; or symptoms that do not respond as your action plan says. Also seek emergency help when chest discomfort comes with marked breathlessness, fainting, a cold sweat, nausea or pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back.

These features can accompany a heart attack or unstable angina. Stay at rest while help is coming and follow the emergency call handler's instructions.

Ask which features fit angina, which tests could clarify the cause, and what to do if the sensation returns. If angina is diagnosed, request written instructions for daily medicines, activity, fast-acting treatment and the symptoms that should trigger an emergency call.