Angina, or angina pectoris, is a term used to describe a specific set of symptoms that can occur when you have heart disease. If your arteries are blocked and your heart does not get the blood and oxygen it needs, you may experience the symptoms of angina. Angina is considered a warning sign of heart disease. If you notice angina symptoms, you need to see your physician. This is especially important for women because heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, even more than all forms of cancer, according to the American Heart Assocation. They may also be so general that they are not associated with heart disease. This can delay treatment and increase a woman's risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Chest Pain
According to the American Heart Association, the most common symptom of angina for both men and women is chest pain or discomfort. This can happen only when you exert yourself, or it can happen at rest. In some cases, especially with women, the pain may be felt in the neck, jaw, shoulder, back or arm instead. It may also start in the chest and then radiate to another area. Abdominal pain and chest pain that is sharp or stabbing is also more common in women. Men tend to have pain that feels more like a tightness or pressure in the chest.
Nausea and Fatigue
An angina attack may make your chest feel full, tight, heavy or constricted. In some cases, it can be mistaken as indigestion or heartburn. The Cleveland Clinic states that women are less likely to relate their symptoms to heart disease and may not seek treatment. Women should be on the lookout for an irregular heartbeat, dizziness, sweating and fatigue. If you have what is called stable angina, your attacks will be predictable, and you will learn what your triggers are. If you have unstable angina, your attacks may come and go with no known triggers.
General Symptoms
During an angina attack, you may find it hard to breathe, experience a numbness or tingling sensation in the arms and develop an upset stomach. The Mayo Clinic states that these less typical heart disease symptoms tend to occur more often in women then in men. Before a heart attack occurs, women may also suffer from insomnia, anxiety or feelings of impending doom.
