How common is chest tightness in angina?

Angina occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood for its workload. It commonly feels like pressure, squeezing, heaviness, or tightness in the centre of the chest. Discomfort may spread to the arm, shoulder, neck, jaw, or back and may come with breathlessness, sweating, nausea, or unusual tiredness. Stable angina often follows activity or emotional stress and improves with rest, but a changing pattern needs urgent review.

If a clinician has given you an angina plan, stop activity and follow that plan when symptoms begin. Arrange medical review for new, repeated, or activity-related chest tightness so the cause and treatment can be assessed. Note the trigger, duration, location, associated symptoms, and how quickly rest changes the sensation. Do not ignore symptoms because they resemble indigestion or anxiety.

Call emergency services for chest tightness that is severe, lasts longer than expected, occurs at rest, or is becoming more frequent or intense. Get immediate help if it comes with breathlessness, fainting, sweating, nausea, or discomfort spreading to the arm, jaw, back, or shoulder. These features can signal an acute heart problem and require urgent treatment.

Could this be angina or another cause of chest tightness? Which tests are appropriate? What should I do during an episode? How can I recognise a change that requires emergency help?