Angina is chest pain or discomfort caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. As a result, the heart muscle doesn’t receive enough oxygen. Angina is considered one of the main signs of coronary artery disease (CAD). Although angina is fairly common, the symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from other kinds of chest pains, particularly indigestion. Women also tend to have different symptoms than men.
Common Symptoms
Women and men both experience common angina symptoms, including chest pain, which typically starts just behind the breastbone. Sufferers describe the pain as a tight pressure, a squeezing sensation or a feeling of heaviness in the center of the chest. Angina symptoms frequently manifest as a burning or stinging pain running down the arm, usually the left one. Pain can also occur in the neck or jaw. Shortness of breath, dizziness, excess perspiration, anxiety and fatigue might also accompany an angina attack.
Additional Symptoms
In addition to the usual symptoms, women often experience other signs of angina attacks. A female might experience more of a sharp stabbing or pulsating pain, or no chest discomfort at all. Some women feel a burning sensation in their back or shoulders. Women with angina suffer from abdominal pains and nausea more often than men. Because they can easily mistake these symptoms for a bout of indigestion, many women delay receiving medical attention.
Types of Angina
There are two types of angina common in both females and males. Stable angina symptoms typically occur when the heart is being forced to work harder. Exercising, climbing stairs or feeling extreme stress can trigger stable angina. Symptoms usually last less than 5 minutes and dissipate with rest or prescribed medication. Unstable angina usually involves pain that is stronger and lasts longer. Unstable angina pain often strikes when an individual is resting. Medication typically has no or little effect on unstable angina.
Diagnosis
Women should make an appointment for a medical exam if they have episodes of chest pains or burning sensations in their backs or arms that last for over 5 minutes. Unexplained episodes of shortness of breath, dizziness, light-headedness or heart palpitations also need medical attention. A doctor usually diagnoses angina with a stress test, which involves having the woman walk or run on a treadmill while he monitors her heart with an electrocardiograph (EKG). A physician might also order X-rays to rule out other medical conditions that cause chest pains.
Treatment
A woman who suffers from mild angina symptoms can usually treat the condition with simple lifestyle changes. Setting a moderate pace and taking frequent rest breaks help lessen the frequency of attacks. So do following a healthy diet, starting a safe exercise program and practicing stress-reducing techniques such as meditation and biofeedback. More severe angina symptoms can be treated with prescribed medications, such as nitrates and beta-blockers. Unstable angina symptoms that don’t respond to medication or rest might require angioplasty or coronary artery bypass surgery to correct the problem.
References
www.mayoclinic.com/health/angina/DS00994
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Angina/Angina_SignsAndSymptoms.html
