Angina pectoris

Symptoms of angina pectoris

Pain is the main symptom of angina. Patients describe the pain as a feeling of constriction, sensation of burning, sensation of pressing, as if a large weight has been placed on their chest and making it impossible to breathe.

The pain is localized behind the sternum, expands in the area around the heart, the left shoulder, on the inside of the left arm, and thereafter in the left forearm along the ulnar nerve, reaching the left pinkie, and the medial half of the fourth finger (ring finger).

In other cases, pain may be felt in the left jaw, in the direction of the throat. Patients describe this as though they are being caught, choked. The pain comes in spells (lasting around 5 minutes, and rarely lasting for up to 20 minutes).

A main characteristic of this type of pain would be that it affects the patient during physical exertion (even walking). The pain stops when the patient rests, or when they utilize nitroglycerine. Pain can also come as a consequence of the aforementioned conditions (cold temp., extreme emotions etc).

Symptoms

Patients start to feel pain or discomfort:

Occurs when the heart must work harder, usually during physical exertion
Doesn't come as a surprise, and episodes of pain tend to be alike
Usually lasts a short time (5 minutes or less)
Is relieved by rest or medicine
May feel like gas or indigestion
May feel like chest pain that spreads to the arms, back, or other areas
They are upset
Anxiety
Intense fear of potential impending death
Immobility (they do not move)

At this moment, there may be intermittent disruptions in the contractions and retractions of the blood vessels which manifest as:

Paleness
Perspiration on the forehead
Elevated levels of spit production
Burping
An urgent need to defecate, urinate
At times, urinary retention may occur (They cannot pee)

There are no changes in pulse, but extrasystoles (heart beats out of turn) may occur.
Blood pressure may increase slightly, body temperature remains normal, blood examinations such as the leukocyte test, erythrosedimentation etc do not exhibit any drastic changes.

It would be wise to perform an EcG during one of the pain spells, which would exhibit the negativization of the T tooth. (just basically show smth different that wouldn’t show up unless the patient is experiencing the pain).

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 24 Jan 2018
Medical Author: Dr. med. Diana Hysi

Articles for angina pectoris

Introduction

Angina pectoris (stenocardia) is the result of myocardial ischemia (i.e. not the disease itself). Stenocardia (chest pain) is the medical term for chest pain or discomfort due to coronary heart disease.

Symptoms of angina pectoris

Patients start to feel pain or discomfort: occurs when the heart must work harder, usually during physical exertion; doesn't come as a surprise, and episodes of pain tend to be alike; usually lasts a short time (5 minutes or less); is relieved by rest or medicine, etc.

Causes of angina pectoris

The main and most common factor is atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries (arteries of the heart). This is the case in 90% of angina pectoris cases. Other causes include: stenosis of the ostium of the aorta, insufficiency of the aorta, etc.

Diagnosis of angina pectoris

Differential diagnosis include: infarction of the myocardis, heart neurosis, paroxysmal tachycardia, acute pericarditis, etc. Patients experiencing such symptoms should immediately refer to a doctor, regardless of the severity of the pain.

Treating angina pectoris

Those suffering from angina pectoris do not have to constantly rest, except for cases in which the pain episodes are frequent and severe. These patients should however avoid great exhaustion, emotional stress and quit smoking.

Doctor - patient conversation

Patients who experience angina pain, are usually very agitated and anxious, at times pale, perspiration visible on the forehead, scared of potential imminent death. At times, patient experiences problems with urination and defecation, sometimes urinating frequently or not at all.

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Why does the pain occur in angina pectoris?

The pain comes as a consequence of the lack of oxygen in the heart muscle, which in turn, comes as a consequence of lack of blood circulation in the heart blood vessels (less blood circulating). The lack of oxygen triggers interoceptive nerve endings.

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