Angina is a condition that's characterised by a build-up of plaque in the walls of your arteries, which prevents your heart from getting enough oxygen by restricting the flow of blood to your heart. When this occurs you will experience intermittent chest pain and chest tightness. In those with angina, there tends to be a correlation between undertaking an activity that raises your heart rate and the severity of your pain, so pain tends to intensify when you walk up a flight of stairs or run to catch a bus. In some people with angina, the pain will travel from their chest into their arms, and breathlessness is a common symptom during spikes in chest pain.
Causes Of Angina
Your doctor will work with you to try and establish why you've developed angina, but it's not always possible to find the cause. Essentially, anything that can cause plaque to build up in the walls of your arteries can cause angina to develop. So, risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes.
Diagnosing And Treating Angina
The first step in getting a diagnosis is to make an appointment with your GP. They will take details of your symptoms, carry out a chest exam and establish whether there's a family history of heart problems. You may then be referred for an electrocardiogram, which is a diagnostic test that records the strength of your heartbeat and can tell your doctor whether your heartbeat is regular or not. To check whether you have a narrowing of your arteries, which will impede blood flow, you may also undergo diagnostic imaging, such as a CT scan.
Angina isn't reversible, but treatment can prevent any further build-up of plaque and can improve your symptoms. Your doctor will discuss a treatment plan with you, but treatment may include lifestyle changes and medication. If you need support to make lifestyle changes, such as giving up smoking, your doctor can refer you to an appropriate support service. Medications used to treat angina include ACE inhibitors and Beta blockers. Additionally, if you have an underlying health condition, such as high blood pressure, your doctor will work with you to get that under control. Once you start treatment, your doctor will monitor you at regular intervals to ensure your treatment plan is working well and the build-up of plaque in your arteries isn't worsening. If conservative treatments aren't helping your symptoms, you may be referred for surgery to have the narrowed sections of your arteries widened.
Angina should never be left untreated, so if you're experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, make an appointment with your GP.
For more info, contact a local doctor.
If you are planning to visit a primary care clinic for the first time, you may have some questions about what to expect. We hope to answer any questions you may have on this blog. Our team of non-medical writers have been working on a number of articles which will explore various aspects of the primary care medical system. Read on to find out more about the type of treatments you can receive in this type of clinic, the questions you may want to ask the medic who treats you, and much more. Please check back soon to read our latest updates.