When to worry about chest pain if you have angina

Angina often causes pressure, tightness, squeezing, or discomfort in the chest when the heart needs more oxygen, such as during exertion. It may settle with rest or the treatment prescribed for you. A pattern that arrives with less activity, lasts longer, feels stronger, or happens while resting is different from your usual pattern and may signal a more serious heart problem.

Pain can spread to the arm, shoulder, back, neck, jaw, or upper abdomen. Breathlessness, sweating, nausea, dizziness, or unusual weakness can occur with heart-related chest pain.

Stop what you are doing and sit or rest in a safe position. Use your prescribed angina medicine exactly as your clinician instructed; do not borrow someone else’s medicine or take extra doses without advice. Note when the discomfort began, what you were doing, how it felt, and whether your prescribed treatment helped. Keep a written record of episodes that are becoming more frequent or easier to trigger.

Arrange a clinical review if your usual pattern has changed, even if the pain settles. A clinician may need to reassess your medicines, triggers, and heart symptoms.

Call emergency services immediately for chest pain that is severe, unfamiliar, persistent, occurs at rest, or does not improve as directed by your clinician. Seek emergency help as well for pain with marked breathlessness, fainting, cold sweating, confusion, or pain spreading to the jaw, back, or arm. Do not drive yourself if you feel seriously unwell.

Ask which symptoms match your usual angina, how to use your prescribed rescue medicine, and what time limit should prompt an emergency call. Ask whether your activity plan, medicines, or follow-up needs to change if episodes become more frequent.