Angina occurs when increased oxygen demands result in less blood flow to the heart. Stress, exercise or increased activity can lead to angina, which typically causes chest pain that resolves within a few minutes, with or without treatment. Some people, frequently the elderly and women, don't feel chest pain during an angina attack but instead have atypical symptoms. In the September 2004 issue of "Clinical Geriatrics, Barbara Kircher, M.D. reported that one large study found that only 30 percent of women have chest pain with angina. Atypical symptoms of angina can lead to delayed recognition and diagnosis of heart problems.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
The symptoms of angina in some people seem to be caused by digestive disorders. Indigestion, bloating, abdominal distress, nausea and upper abdominal pain may occur. Belching or burping may relieve the pain, the Merck Manual reports, further indicating that digestive rather than cardiac symptoms caused the problem.
Respiratory Symptoms
Respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath or difficulty breathing may occur as atypical symptoms of angina. Difficulty breathing may be caused by changes in the filling of the left ventricle of the heart related to ischemia, or lack of blood flow to the heart, the Merck Manual explains.
Musculoskeletal Symptoms
Many people with atypical angina report discomfort in areas other than the typical substernal chest pressure. Discomfort instead is felt in the lower jaw, shoulders, teeth, arms or back, Delia Johnson, PhD of the Women and Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation study carried out by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute reported in 2002. Sensations felt during angina may be referred to as tenderness or burning rather than pain. Elderly people may attribute pain in the back and shoulders to arthritis rather than angina. One woman complained of pulsating sensations in the throat, Kirchner reports.
Generalized Symptoms
Generalized symptoms such as anxiety, feelings that something terrible is going to happen, sweating, weakness, lightheadedness and dizziness may occur in people with angina. Fatigue and sleep disturbances are often reported, according to Kircher. Angina may occur more frequently in women at rest, during periods of stress or during sleep, Johnson states.
