Angina and vital signs: what to know

During an episode, pain, anxiety or exertion may change the pulse, blood pressure or breathing rate. These changes are not specific to angina. A clinician interprets the symptom pattern alongside an examination and tests such as an electrocardiogram.

A fast pulse or raised blood pressure can reflect exertion or the body's response to discomfort. A slow, irregular or unusually weak pulse may also matter, particularly with dizziness or faintness. Low oxygen readings are not a defining feature of angina and may point to another heart or lung problem.

A single home reading gives limited information. The trend, the circumstances and associated symptoms are more useful: note whether discomfort began during activity or rest, how long it lasted and whether it eased after rest or prescribed medicine.

Stop activity and rest. Follow your personal angina plan and use prescribed medicine exactly as directed. If it is safe and does not delay help, record the time, pulse and blood pressure, but do not keep repeating measurements while severe symptoms continue.

Arrange a clinical review if episodes are becoming easier to trigger, more frequent, longer-lasting or different from your familiar pattern. Bring your readings and medication list; the clinician may check the heart rhythm and review blood pressure treatment.

Call local emergency services for new or severe chest pressure, discomfort at rest, symptoms that do not settle promptly with rest and your prescribed plan, or discomfort accompanied by breathlessness, sweating, nausea, fainting, marked weakness, or pain spreading to the arm, jaw, back or shoulder. Do not drive yourself.

Seek emergency help based on the symptoms even if a watch, blood pressure monitor or oxygen device shows a reassuring value. Home devices can miss important heart problems and cannot diagnose the cause of chest pain.

Ask which changes in your usual symptom pattern should trigger emergency help, whether you should measure blood pressure during an episode, how to use your prescribed angina medicine and whether an ECG or medication review is appropriate.