Exertional angina symptoms: what should you know?

Angina can feel like squeezing, heaviness, pressure, burning, or tightness rather than a sharp pain. It may spread into the shoulder, arm, jaw, neck, or back. Breathlessness, sweating, nausea, dizziness, or unusual tiredness can accompany the chest sensation. Walking quickly, climbing stairs, carrying a load, or emotional stress may bring it on because the heart needs more oxygen.

Symptoms can be less typical in women, older adults, and people with diabetes. Chest symptoms have many possible causes, so a familiar pattern still needs a clinician's assessment and should not be self-diagnosed.

Stop the activity and sit or rest. Follow the instructions for any angina medicine already prescribed to you. Record what you were doing, how the sensation felt, how long it lasted, and whether rest changed it. Arrange prompt medical review for a new symptom, a lower activity threshold, longer episodes, or symptoms that are becoming more frequent. An ECG may form part of the assessment, alongside blood pressure and cardiovascular risk checks.

Call emergency services for chest pressure or tightness that is severe, lasts, occurs at rest, returns soon after resting, or comes with fainting, severe breathlessness, cold sweating, nausea, or marked weakness. Emergency help is also needed when discomfort spreads to the arm, jaw, neck, or back. Do not drive yourself or wait for symptoms to become unmistakable.

Ask whether your symptoms fit angina, whether you need an ECG or other tests, which activity is safe, and how to use prescribed medicines. Ask how hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes, or smoking may affect your risk.