Why does angina cause chest pain?

The heart needs a continuous blood supply through the coronary arteries. If an artery is narrowed, exertion, emotional stress, cold conditions, or a heavy meal can increase the heart’s demand beyond what that blood supply can provide. The discomfort may feel like pressure, squeezing, heaviness, burning, or an ache, and can spread to the arm, shoulder, jaw, neck, back, or upper abdomen. Chest Pain is a very common presentation of Angina.

Chest pain has many possible causes, including conditions affecting the lungs, stomach, muscles, and heart. Only a clinical assessment can identify the cause. New or changing chest discomfort should be treated cautiously.

Stop the activity that brought on the discomfort and rest. Use glyceryl trinitrate exactly as your clinician has prescribed it. If you have a known angina plan, follow it and keep any emergency contact instructions accessible. Do not drive yourself to hospital when symptoms are severe or unusual.

Record what you were doing when pain began, how it felt, where it travelled, what relieved it, and any associated sweating, nausea, breathlessness, or dizziness. This information can help a clinician assess changes in your pattern.

Call emergency services immediately for chest pain that is new, severe, lasts longer than your usual angina, occurs at rest, is not relieved by your prescribed plan, or comes with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, fainting, or a feeling of impending collapse. These symptoms can signal a heart emergency and need urgent assessment.

Ask whether your symptoms fit stable angina, what activities may trigger them, how and when to use your prescribed medicines, and what change should prompt an emergency call. Review heart risk factors, exercise limits, and whether a cardiology review or further testing is indicated.