Angina, or chest pain, is a symptom that typically arises when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become clogged. Unlike patients with more traditional forms of angina, such as stable angina, microvascular angina patients do not exhibit artery blockages, although the symptoms of microvascular angina mimic those experienced by people with stable angina. Researchers with the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Cardiovascular Program report that microvascular angina is believed to occur due to problems with artery dilation during physical activity. People who develop symptoms of microvascular angina should speak with a cardiologist for further evaluation and care.
Chest Pain
Chest pain is the characteristic symptom associated with microvascular angina. Affected people can develop a mild cramping or squeezing sensation at the center of the chest. Typically, chest pain symptoms due to microvascular angina are most severe during or immediately following physical activity, such as walking up a flight of stairs, explains FamilyDoctor.org. Sensations of chest pain can last for a few seconds or may persist for several hours. People who develop sudden or severe chest pain should seek medical care immediately as this symptom of microvascular angina is also a sign of heart attack.
Upper Body Pain
Sensations of pain within the chest can radiate to other regions of the upper body. People with microvascular angina can develop sharp or burning pain that extends into the shoulders, neck, jaw, arms or upper back, explain Dartmouth-Hitchcock medical professionals. These symptoms of microvascular angina can be uncomfortable and may occur in conjunction with unusual breathing difficulties or increased sweating. Certain activities, such as eating a large meal or crying, may exacerbate upper body pain symptoms in people with microvascular angina. People who develop unusual or sudden upper body pain may be having a heart attack even if they do not develop chest pain symptoms.
Numbness
Unusual sensations of numbness can arise as a symptom of microvascular angina in people with this heart condition. Affected people can develop numbness or tingling that extends across the shoulders and down into the arms or wrists, according to Texas Heart Institute medical experts. Sensations of numbness can persist for several minutes and can make it difficult for people to move the affected body region normally. Sudden numbness, especially if it localizes to only one side of the body, should be promptly reported to a medical professional as this symptom of microvascular angina can be a sign of stroke.
