Angina is chest pain due to decreased oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. An individual with angina may experience a pain similar to a heart attack including a feeling of pressure on the chest as well as the arm, neck or jaw pain. The condition occurs as a symptom of coronary artery disease and affects more than 10 million people in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. Treatment for angina includes rest and a nitroglycerin tablet that dissolves under the tongue. Stable angina, unstable angina and variant angina are the three possible types of angina. All types of angina share the same risk factors.
High Blood Pressure
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, increases the risk of developing angina because an increase in blood pressure damages blood vessels. The damaged arteries decrease the blood flow to the heart muscle.
High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is bits of fat that float through blood and stick to the walls of the blood vessels. Once the cholesterol adheres to the vessel wall, the vessel becomes significantly smaller. This allows less blood to pass through. If the arteries to the heart have the plaque buildup in them, the heart suffers from not receiving enough blood.
Age and Gender
Although angina occurs more frequently in men than women, age also plays a role as a risk factor for the condition. The risk for developing angina increases during the aging process. Men over the age of 45 and women over the age of 55 have an increased risk, the Mayo Clinic reports.
Diabetes
If the body loses the ability to control blood sugar levels by producing the correct levels of insulin, the result is diabetes. Individuals suffering from diabetes also have an increased risk of having increased amounts of cholesterol and hardened arteries. Because of this, there is also the increased risk of having angina.
Smoking
Tobacco smoking or exposure to the smoke increases the risk of angina because of damage caused to the artery walls, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Obesity
Individuals who are more than 20 percent over their ideal body weight are obese. Obesity leads to multiple medical conditions that increase the risk of heart disease and angina including high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. The heart also has to pump harder to get blood to the extra layers of fat.
Stress
Stress creates turmoil in the body. As a person experiences stress, the blood pressure rises and unhealthy habits such as smoking and poor eating may occur. Hormones released during times of stress may also contribute to the narrowing of blood vessels, the Mayo Clinic states.
Family History
An increased occurrence of angina happens with a family history of the condition. Individuals who have family members suffering from coronary artery disease--especially before the age of 50--have an increased risk of developing the condition.
