1. Know What Causes Angina
The most common explanation of the term "angina" is a choking type of pain in the chest caused by inadequate oxygenation of the heart muscle from coronary arteries that are blocked from the accumulation of plaque or clots. Angina differs from pain associated with indigestion, anxiety or even a heart attack in that the pain is typically triggered by some type of physically or emotionally stressful event. Angina typically does not involve any heart muscle damage, and usually dissipates with rest. In fact, angina pain frequently persists from 1 to 10 minutes and then subsides. It is usually caused from the narrowing of one or more of the coronary arteries that creates an oxygen starvation situation within the heart muscle. It is important to be able to differentiate pain caused by an angina attack from that of something like a gallbladder attack, and sometimes medical workup is needed to determine the differences.
2. Consider What Ignites the Symptoms
For those suffering from angina-related pain, it is important to have a keen awareness of what factors influence the onset of pain and symptoms, from physical exertion to increased stress or anxiety. Sometimes climbing stairs can cause chest discomfort, or lifting moderately heavy objects, such as trash cans, can also cause pain and symptoms. Learn to identify potential high-stress areas of your day or job and avoid them or attempt to modify circumstances that aggravate your stress levels. Knowing what type of physical exertion precipitates chest pain, and either avoiding or modifying it, will go a long way in keeping the pain and symptoms to a minimum.
3. Look for Unexplained Pain
Chest pain that occurs out of context for the activities that are being performed, or when you are sedentary, can be signs of angina. Many people have been awakened in the middle of the night with these chest pains, so exertion is not the only stimulating factor. Some people have described their angina as heartburn that wasn't relieved with antacids or other remedies. If you begin to experience any type of chest pain that seems out of sync with the activities that you have been engaged in, get immediate medical attention in case it is true angina. Better to be overtreated for heartburn than undertreated for angina.
