Angina, also known as angina, is the sensation of heaviness, pain or tightness in the chest that occurs when there is a decrease in blood flow in the arteries that carry oxygen to the heart, known as cardiac ischemia.
Most of the time, cardiac ischemia is a consequence of atherosclerosis, which is characterized by the buildup of fatty plaques in the coronary arteries, being more common in people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or decompensated diabetes. Find out the top 5 causes of atherosclerosis.
- Cardiac ischemia and therefore angina are more common in people over the age of 50 and need to be treated quickly.
- As they present a significant risk of developing heart attack.
- Cardiac arrest and other cardiovascular diseases.
- Such as arrhythmias.
- Heart failure or stroke.
- For example.
There are different types of angina, which can vary depending on the symptoms that occur, the main being:
It is caused by transient ischemia, that is, it occurs when the person makes an effort or suffers emotional stress, for example with a partial and momentary decrease in blood flow. This type of angina is more common in people who already have some form of partial coronary atherosclerosis, which can worsen and even cause a heart attack.
Main symptoms: Symptoms usually associated with stable angina are a feeling of tightness or burning in the chest area, lasting between 5 and 10 minutes and may radiate to the shoulder, arm or neck. Symptoms are often triggered by exertion or moments of great emotion, and improve with rest or with medications to dilate the arteries and increase blood flow, such as Isordil.
How it is treated: In case of stable angina, the cardiologist usually indicates rest and, in some cases, the use of vasodilator medications, such as dinitrate or isosorbide mononitrate (Isordil), to improve blood circulation in the artery.
In addition, it is important to have healthy lifestyle habits to prevent angor from having a recurrence again and, for this, it is recommended that the person monitor their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, in addition to the importance of having a diet low in salt, fats and sugar. and engage in regular physical activity.
This is a more serious situation than stable angina, as it is caused by a greater interruption of oxygenation of the heart, due to a rupture and inflammation of the atherosclerosis plaque that causes more intense and constant symptoms, being considered a form of pre-hearted attack.
Main symptoms: The main symptoms of stable angina are pain, tightness or burning sensation in the chest area that lasts more than 20 minutes, which also radiates to nearby areas and may be associated with other symptoms such as nausea, sweating and shortness of breath. When these symptoms appear, you should go to the emergency room immediately. Find out what chest pain can be.
How treatment is performed: Initial treatment is already performed in the emergency room, with remedies to prevent worsening of symptoms, such as:
After initial treatment, your cardiologist examines your coronary obstruction level and heart disease using tests such as echocardiography, cardiac scan, and cardiac catheterization.
As in stable angina, unstable angina is also important to treat risk factors, such as pressure control, cholesterol, blood sugar, as well as controlling diet and practicing physical activities, attitudes that are essential to maintaining good coronary and cardiac health.
This type of angina has no clear cause and occurs due to coronary spasm, in which there is an interruption of blood flow even if the person does not have a buildup of fat in the artery or other narrowing.
Main symptoms: in the case of Prinzmetal angina, severe chest pains or tightness may be noticed, which occur even at rest and gradually improve within a few minutes. It is also common to appear during sleep or early in the morning.
How treatment is performed: Treatment of this type of angina is done with the advice of a cardiologist and is usually done by using drugs such as nitrate inhibitors or calcium channels, such as Diltiazem and Verapamil, for example.
At the time of the seizure, the diagnosis of angina is made by the cardiologist through the assessment of the signs and symptoms presented by the person, as well as evaluating the results of certain tests, such as electrocardiogram, chest x-ray and measurement of cardiac enzymes in the blood. In addition to these, other tests may be required to confirm the diagnosis, such as stress tests, cardio scans, echocardiography, and cardiac catheterization.
Cardiac catheterization is a very important test because, in addition to more accurately quantifying the blockage of blood vessels and assessing the presence of changes in blood flow, it is able to treat the cause of the blockage, by angioplasty, with the implantation of a stent. or using a balloon to open the artery. Know what it’s used for and what the risks of cardiac catheterization are.
Angina can be cured in people who can treat cardiac ischemia as recommended by the cardiologist. Many cases are well controlled with the use of medications prescribed by the cardiologist, while more serious cases require catheterization or even cardiac revascularization surgery.
Here are some helpful tips for treating angina correctly
With these attitudes, in addition to the treatment of angina, it is also possible to prevent the aggravation or appearance of new fatty plaques in the coronary arteries.