What should you know about angina?

People may describe pressure, squeezing, heaviness, burning, or tightness in the chest. Discomfort can spread to an arm, shoulder, jaw, neck, back, or upper abdomen, and may occur with breathlessness, sweating, nausea, or unusual tiredness. Symptoms can be less typical in older adults, women, or people with diabetes.

Stable angina often follows a predictable pattern with activity and eases with rest or prescribed medicine. New, changing, more severe, or rest-related symptoms may signal a more urgent problem. Hypertension is one condition that can contribute to cardiovascular strain, but chest discomfort has several possible causes and needs assessment.

Stop exertion and rest when symptoms begin. If you have prescribed angina medicine, use it according to your personal plan. Arrange medical assessment for new or recurring chest discomfort, even if it settles, because an Electrocardiogram and other checks may be needed to understand the cause.

Take medicines as prescribed and tell your clinician if episodes are becoming easier to trigger, lasting longer, or interfering with normal activity. Control of blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, sleep, and activity can form part of a broader plan. Do not start Blood Pressure Medication or Statin Therapy without clinical advice.

Call emergency services for chest discomfort that is severe, new, prolonged, occurs at rest, or does not settle with the prescribed plan. Seek immediate help if it comes with breathlessness, fainting, cold sweating, marked weakness, confusion, or pain spreading to the jaw, back, or arm. Do not drive yourself if a heart emergency is possible.

Could these symptoms be angina or another cause? Which tests do I need? What should I do during an episode? How should I use my prescribed medicine? Which changes mean I should call emergency services? How can we address my blood pressure and cholesterol risks?