What should you know about non-limiting angina?

Angina happens when the heart muscle needs more oxygen-rich blood than the coronary arteries can supply. Discomfort may feel like pressure, tightness, heaviness, or burning in the chest and can spread to an arm, shoulder, neck, jaw, or back.

Symptoms may appear with exertion or emotional stress and improve with rest or prescribed treatment. Hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions can increase strain on the heart. A symptom such as chest tightness is not enough to identify the cause without assessment.

Book a clinical review even when symptoms are mild or predictable. The clinician may review triggers, duration, medical history, blood pressure, and medicines, and may arrange an electrocardiogram or other tests.

Use prescribed angina treatment exactly as instructed, pace exertion, and record what brings symptoms on and what relieves them. Treatment may include blood pressure medication or statin therapy when appropriate. Do not alter doses without medical advice.

Call emergency services for chest discomfort that is new, severe, prolonged, occurs at rest, or does not improve with the action in your prescribed plan. Seek urgent help if it comes with breathlessness, sweating, nausea, fainting, or pain spreading to the jaw or arm.

Ask what pattern your symptoms follow, which activities are safe, how to use any prescribed relief medicine, which risk factors need treatment, and exactly when to call emergency services.