Common Cardiac Conditions & Symptoms
Find out all you need to know about your heart conditions
Dr. Jogiya is a specialist in many different fields of Cardiology. These include heart rhythm issues, coronary artery diseases, heart blocks, heart failure, and stroke prevention. Many of the conditions that Dr. Jogiya treats can be found below with some more information about the condition and the symptoms to look out for.
If you need any more information, click on the condition name and you will be redirected to the British Heart Foundation website where you will find all the information you need about your condition and the best treatments available. For more information about your condition, treatment, long-term care, or any other queries, you can contact Dr. Jogiya here.
Quick Guide:
Arrhythmias (Heart Rhythm Issues)
Atrial Arrhythmias
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Atrial Flutter
• Atrial Tachycardia, SVT and WPW
Ventricular Arrhythmias
• Ventricular Ectopics
• Ventricular Tachycardia
Conduction Delays and Heart Blocks
• Atrioventricular Block (1st, 2nd and 3rd Degree Heart Block)
• Bundle Branch Block
• Sick Sinus Syndrome and Tachybrady syndrome
Structural Heart Issues
Heart Failure
• Cardiomyopathy
• Ventricular Hypertrophy
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
• Coronary Angiograms
• Procedures and Treatments for CAD
Heart Attacks
• Know the signs
• Medication and further care
Blood Pressure issues (Hypotension vs Hypertension)
• Sustained Hypertension vs White Coat Syndrome
Angina
• Stable and Unstable Angina
Stroke
• Stroke
• Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA)
Arrhythmias (Heart Rhythm issues)
Arrhythmias are heart rhythm or conduction issues whereby the electrical conduction of the heart is affected. These rhythms can take many different forms and can affect both the upper and lower chambers of the heart. The diagnosis of heart rhythm issues is usually done through an ECG, or a Holter monitor (prolonged ECG recording) to get an understanding of the heart rhythm. Regular ECGs will be conducted to ensure that treatments are successful and effective
Dr. Jogiya is an expert in Arrhythmia treatment and management of abnormal heart rhythms. Below you can find some of the most common arrhythmias that Dr. Jogiya deals with, as well as some common treatment methods:
Atrial Arrhythmias
Atrial heart rhythm issues affect the upper chambers of the heart (atria). These chambers primarily receive blood into the heart before it is pumped by the lower chambers (ventricles) to either the lungs or the rest of the body. Atrial arrhythmias can cause a wide range of symptoms including shortness of breath, palpitations, and dizziness.
Atrial Fibrillation - Atrial Fibrillation, commonly known as AF, is a condition where the atria (or upper chambers of the heart) fire chaotic electrical impulses leading the muscle to 'quiver' (or fibrillate) instead of beat. This is one of the most common heart rhythm issues which affects roughly 1.4 million people in the UK alone.
Effective treatment for AF begins with medication to control the heart rate and regulate heart function. Patients diagnosed with AF may often also be commenced on blood thinning medication to prevent the risks of stroke or other blood clot formations in the heart.
Other treatments can include DC Cardioversion and Ablation procedures to try and 'reset' the heart to its natural rhythm or to implant a pacemaker to regulate the heart rhythm at a set pace.
Atrial Flutter - Atrial Flutter is another condition that affects the upper chambers of the heart (atria). However, Atrial Flutter is a regular but rapid beat in the atria as opposed to an irregular chaotic impulse. The impulses during a flutter maybe 4-5 times faster than that of the ventricles, and so blood is not efficiently pumped from the top to the bottom chambers as there is not enough time for chambers to fill, which is what leads to shortness of breath.
Effective treatment for Atrial Flutter begins with medication to control the heart rate and regulate heart function. Other treatments can include DC Cardioversion and Ablation procedures to try and 'reset' the heart to its natural rhythm.
Supra-ventricular Tachycardias (SVT) - An SVT (or supra-ventricular tachycardia) is a fast heart rhythm that originates above the ventricles, but not always in the same way as an atrial tachycardia. Symptoms for SVTs will vary widely from one person to another, and treatment options are personalised to the patient and the symptoms they experience.
Atrial Tachycardia is a form of SVT that occurs when an electrical signal emerges from another section of the Atria (upper heart chambers) and causes a rapid repeating beat which means that the atria beat very fast. Atrial Tachycardias can be worrying if they continue for a long period, because the rapid signals may be transmitted to the ventricles so the heart would beat too fast and blood would not be pumped around the body effectively.
Short bouts of SVTs or ATs can be common, and can usually be treated very easily. Vagal Manoeuvres such as coughing or an ice pack on the face can stimulate the vagus nerve and often relaxes and resolves the atrial tachycardia. Other treatments such as medication are a good way to manage the condition, with beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers proving effective at controlling the condition.
Another form of SVT which is commonly seen is a condition known as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome where electrical conduction in the atria does not follow the normal 'pathway' and uses an extra electrical connection to conduct impulses. The 'short circuit' then forms which triggers a rapid heart rhythm or tachycardia. This condition might be congenital (from birth) but most symptoms are not present until later on in life.
Sometimes, patients may just have a WPW pattern on their ECG but do not suffer from WPW syndrome, i.e., they do not have irregular heart rhythms. Treatment options are thus based on individual cases, and again can range from vagal manoeuvres to medication and if necessary a cardioversion or EP (Electrophysiology) study.
Ventricular Arrhythmias
Ventricular heart rhythm issues affect the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles). These chambers are the main pumping chambers of the heart. The right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs to exchange carbon dioxide for fresh oxygen, while the left ventricle delivers freshly oxygenated blood to the body. Ventricular arrhythmias a very rare but can be life-threatening if not treated appropriately.
Ventricular Ectopics - Ventricular Ectopics are 'extra' heartbeats produced in the lower chambers of the heart. These beats are completely harmless but can affect people in different ways, with some experiencing symptoms and others not feeling these beats at all. This may feel like a 'skipped' beat, but most people will feel palpitations. Most ectopics can resolve themselves but in cases where treatment is required, medication can be used to reduce the ectopics and manage symptoms.
Sometimes, procedures might be required to isolate and disable the parts of the heart that cause the ectopics if they become too frequent.
Ventricular Tachycardia - Ventricular Tachycardia is a condition where the lower chambers of the heart beat too fast. This means that blood cannot be pumped efficiently and can lead to a vast array of symptoms. Ventricular Tachycardias are rare but do occur in patients of all ages. VTs do need to be monitored and can be dangerous if they continue for long periods as they are likely to progress to ventricular fibrillation (VF).
Short bouts of VT can be treated with medication. Other treatments can include Ablation procedures to remove or isolate the parts from which the abnormal rhythm originates. Alternatively, a pacemaker can be implanted to regulate the heart rhythm and suppress VTs occurring.
Conduction Delays and Heart Blocks
A Heart Block refers to a delay to the conduction system in the heart, usually in the AV (atrioventricular) Node. This node controls the synchronisation of beats being delivered from the atria to the ventricles. In patients with a heart block, the impulse being sent to the ventricles might be delayed or completely out of sync with the signals being received from the atria. Heart blocks can occur for different reasons which include some medications, previous heart attacks, and even infections. Treatment options will depend on the type of heart block you are diagnosed with and the degree to which any symptoms affect your quality of life:
1st Degree Heart Block - 1st Degree Heart Block is the most common conduction issue and can affect everyone, no matter what age. This heart block is common to occur at night time and is the least serious, but some people can still have very minor symptoms during the day. This type of heart block is usually diagnosed when testing for an unrelated condition. 1st Degree Heart Block does not require treatment for asymptomatic patients, but for those with symptoms, medical management is the main treatment method.
2nd Degree Heart Block - There are two types of second-degree heart block, known as Mobitz type I and II. Mobitz I is also known as Wenckebach and is the least serious of the two types. Close monitoring is often required but usually asymptomatic patients
Mobitz I (Wenckebach) - This form of second-degree heart block is when the conduction between the atria and ventricles is delayed more and more with each beat, which leads to one of the atrial impulses not being sent to the ventricles at all (what some people might call a skipped beat). With each beat, the AV node continues to become fatigued leading to slower action with each impulse received. Mobitz I usually has a lower risk of disease progression and symptomatic patients respond to treatment with atropine.
Mobitz II - This form of heart block describes an intermittent failure of conduction between the Bundle of His and the Purkinje Fibres (parts of the conduction system located below the AV node). This type of conduction defect is more likely due to a structural issue within the conduction system, either from infection or muscular death, whereas Mobitz type I is more likely to be caused by the effects of medicines and other chemicals on the AV node. Sometimes Mobitz II can present itself in a pattern, whereas other times there may not be a regular relationship between the impulses of the atria and the ventricles.
Mobitz II is a more dangerous condition and can be associated with hemodynamic compromise, increased symptoms, and a higher likelihood of progressing to 3rd Degree Heart Block. There is an increased risk of sudden cardiac death and blackouts, and the risk of cardiac arrest or 'asystole' is around 35% each year. Mobitz II requires the insertion of a permanent pacemaker whether the patient experiences any symptoms or not.
3rd Degree Heart Block - 3rd degree, or Complete Heart Block (CHB) is an absence of any atrioventricular conduction which leads to a complete dissociation between the impulses being fired in the atria and the ventricles. The ventricles therefore contract with ventricular beats or other conduction pathways known as junctional beats. 3rd degree blocks are usually the end point of Mobitz I or II blocks, and signal the failure of the AV node or the ventricular conduction system to perform its necessary tasks.
3rd degree heart block can be caused by heart attacks, infections, medication, and the general degeneration of the AV node. All patients will likely experience symptoms including shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain, and sometimes dizziness. The risk of ventricular standstill (asystole) or sudden cardiac death is much greater, and so requires immediate treatment.
All patients with 3rd-degree heart block will require urgent admission for monitoring and will require a permanent pacemaker to control the conduction between the atria and ventricles. Sometimes, other types of heart block might be presented as 3rd degree, so it is important to monitor a patient in case any other diagnoses can be made.
Bundle Branch Block - Bundle branch blocks describe a block in a part of the conduction system of the heart known as the bundle branches. These branches deliver the conduction impulses from the AV node to each ventricle (left and right). This conduction delay means that one side of the heart receives the impulse before the other, meaning that the contraction in the ventricles is not synchronised.
Causes for bundle branch block can be varied and can include: Heart Disease, Aortic Stenosis, some medications, previous heart attacks, and structural heart issues such as Cardiomyopathies. Bundle branch block in patients with chest pain might suggest a risk of an acute heart attack.
Bundle branch blocks might be presented as 'incomplete', where impulses are sometimes intermittently delivered through the bundle branches, and at other times are blocked. Repeat ECGs or monitoring might be required to diagnose the correct type of bundle branch block.
Mostly, bundle branch blocks require monitoring with ECGs and heart monitoring, However, if bundle branch blocks affect the function of the heart or increase symptoms then medication can be used to increase cardiac function. In more serious cases, cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) or biventricular pacing can be used to put both ventricles back into a synchronised rhythm and thus increase the heart's function.
Sick Sinus Syndrome - Sick Sinus Syndrome (SSS) or Sinus Node Disease (SND) is a condition where the sinus node (sinoatrial node) is not functioning properly and is malfunctioning. Sometimes the node will send impulses, and sometimes it may not fire an impulse at all or the impulses may be out of sync. Some patients with sick sinus syndrome may experience symptoms such as palpitations and shortness of breath. This condition is not to be confused with AF or other atrial conditions as they refer mostly to an overactive or irregular atrial impulse, whereas sick sinus syndrome refers mostly to a non-functional sinus node.
The common treatment for sick sinus syndrome is a single chamber (atrial) pacemaker which regulates the impulses being sent from the atria to ventricles and promotes regular cardiac function. Sometimes a dual-chamber pacemaker might be implanted to further regulate and manage the heart rhythm in both the atria and ventricles.
Tachy-Brady Syndrome - Tachybrady syndrome is a phenomenon by which the heart rate increases (tachycardia) and decreases (bradycardia) spontaneously without any external influence. Normally this is diagnosed as a period of bradycardia (low heart rate) with alternating spontaneous paroxysmal supra-ventricular beats. Normally the heart reacts to its surrounding environments and the heart rate will only increase or decrease if required by the level of activity (i.e. exercise would increase the heart rate, and sleeping would decrease the heart rate).
This condition occurs mostly with AF and occurs because of the conduction of abnormal automated impulses through the atrial tissue. At least 50% of patients with Sinus Node Disease (SND) are affected by Tachybrady syndrome. Treatments for Tachybrady syndrome will relate to the more serious problem. A lower heart rate will require a pacemaker to increase and regulate impulses being delivered to the atria. Fast heart rates can be treated with medication, but sometimes a specialised pacemaker or internal defibrillator may be implanted to regulate the heart rhythm and control fast heart rates.
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
Cardiovascular disease is an umbrella term for diseases that affect the cardiovascular system and circulation. These include high blood pressure (hypertension), coronary artery disease, and vascular dementia which lead to heart attacks, strokes, and angina. These diseases can also impact the heart's electrical conduction and cause arrhythmias, as well as the structure and function of the heart, and can cause heart failure. General symptoms of Cardiovascular Disease include chest pain, shortness of breath, pain and weakness in the arms and legs, dizziness, and fatigue. Some of these diseases can also cause swelling around the legs, an indication of lower cardiac function and heart failure.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
Coronary artery disease is a condition that affects the coronary arteries or the blood vessels that supply the heart with oxygenated blood to keep the muscle pumping. Coronary arteries that become blocked or narrowed can lead to worsening symptoms and can cause heart attacks, angina pains, and other events. Narrowing and blockages in the arteries can be caused by increased cholesterol levels leading to a condition known as Atherosclerosis. A progression of atherosclerosis leads to damage to the vessel wall or a rupture of the wall which may lead to a blood clot. A blood clot (or thrombus) could potentially lead to a restriction of blood flow to the heart muscle causing a myocardial infarction (MI) otherwise known as a heart attack.
A thrombus might also break off from the original vessel and move in the blood which is known as an embolus. This might cause a blockage in another area of the heart or could cause a blockage in the lungs (Pulmonary Embolism) or a Stroke (Cerebral Infarction). Controlling cholesterol levels usually requires medication and a controlled diet to eliminate any fats or oils. In the event of narrowing or blocked arteries, other forms of treatment may be required:
Coronary Angiogram - a Coronary Angiogram is an invasive procedure that looks at the condition of the coronary arteries. This is done by inserting a small tube called a catheter through the wrist or leg, which is then advanced to the Aorta (a large blood vessel that carries blood from the left ventricle to the rest of the body). The coronary arteries of the heart branch off from the aorta, and so the catheter is used to look inside these arteries and assess their condition. Usually, a radioactive dye is used to allow the arteries to be seen on a special type of x-ray, better known as Fluoroscopy.
Other Procedures and Treatments for Coronary Disease - Treatments and other procedures for CAD will vary depending on the severity of the blockage in the artery. When arteries are narrowed, a procedure known as a balloon angioplasty can be performed which pushes the artery walls open and allows for more blood flow through the vessel. Sometimes there may be a risk of the vessel closing up again or re-narrowing, so a stent may be inserted into the vessel to keep it open in a procedure known as a Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). These procedures can be done at the same time as a Coronary Angiogram, and are performed using the same method as an Angiogram through a catheter.
In the event of an artery being completely blocked, a procedure can be performed to bypass the affected artery. This procedure is known as a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (or CABG for short). You may be required to stay in a hospital for a few days after a CABG procedure, whereas other procedures are usually performed as day-case operations.
Heart Attack
A heart attack can occur for several different reasons, but is essentially when the heart muscle is deprived of any blood flow to a portion of the heart muscle, or myocardium. This is why a heart attack is usually referred to as a Myocardial Infarction or MI. The area of heart muscle deprived of blood flow is not able to receive any oxygen from the fresh blood, which means that the myocardium begins to die. This means that the heart muscle will not move or efficiently pump blood, and so will impact the cardiac cycle, conduction systems, and the heart's function. Heart attacks can be treated if detected early and usually require an immediate PCI to the affected vessel, but a prolonged heart attack could lead to hemodynamic compromise and even death if the heart muscle is irreparable.
British Heart Foundation, 2023
American Heart Association, 2023.
Heart attack symptoms can vary from person to person, and are usually different in males and females. Most patients will experience chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, pain radiating in the jaw, back, or left arm, and sometimes even nausea. In rare occasions, heart attacks can be silent with no preceding symptoms but mostly a patient will collapse which would alert bystanders that they are having a heart attack.
When diagnosing a heart attack in the hospital, a few tests can be used. Blood tests are always useful as any raised inflammatory markers and cardiac markers can reliably indicate an acute heart attack. An ECG can also be a useful tool to detect a heart attack. The ST segment on the ECG can be a good indicator of myocardial health, and ST elevation can indicate the presence of a recent or ongoing heart attack. A heart attack diagnosed with the use of ST elevation on an ECG is known as a STEMI (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction). Non-STEMI heart attacks are known as NSTEMIs.
Further care and Medication - Following a heart attack, a patient might require monitoring for a few days before being discharged from the hospital. Regular medication such as blood thinners, anti-inflammatory medicines such as Aspirin, and cholesterol-controlling medication such as statins might be required on a long-term prescription following a heart attack.
Sometimes, patients may require rehabilitation sessions to regain strength and cardiac function following a more severe heart attack. It may take a few weeks to return to your normal level of activity following a heart attack, but regular rehabilitation can vastly improve your prognosis and can help you to return to normality.
Blood Pressure issues (Hypotension and hypertension)
Blood pressure is a measurement of the pressure at which blood flows through blood vessels. Two numbers are recorded during blood pressure measurements which include a systolic and diastolic reading, with both measurements recorded in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). The systolic reading is the force with which your heart pumps blood under pressure (during systole). The normal reading for systolic pressure is around 120mmHg. Diastolic pressure is measured when the heart is at rest and is measured as the resistance of the blood flow in the vessels between heartbeats. A normal diastolic reading should be around 80mmHg.
Hypotension - Blood pressure readings lower than 90/60mmHg are known as hypotension (low blood pressure) and can cause symptoms such as dizziness and fatigue. The pressure of blood being pumped is not high enough to keep up with the demand in the heart and can lead to fainting or blackouts, otherwise known as Syncope.
Hypertension - Blood Pressure measurements higher than 140/90mmHg are classed as Hypertensive (high blood pressure). Blood pressure usually rises with age due to the stiffening of the arteries, as well as other co-morbidities such as Diabetes and Hypercholesterolaemia affecting blood vessels. Older people (usually patients above 80) have higher blood pressure criteria of up to 150/90mmHg.
Blood pressure readings above 120/80mmHg, but below 140/90mmHg are considered at risk of developing hypertension but do not usually require medical management.
Risks of High Blood Pressure - sustained hypertension, or prolonged periods of high blood pressure, could put you at risk of other serious health conditions. These conditions could include:
• Heart Disease
• Heart Attacks
• Strokes
• Heart Failure
• Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
• Aortic Aneurysms
• Kidney Failure
• Vascular Dementia (and other brain injuries)
Lifestyle choices can always help to manage blood pressure. Increasing exercise, losing weight, reducing stress, avoiding coffee or alcohol and other such measures can help to reduce and manage your blood pressure. There may be some things that you cannot control which contributes to higher blood pressure levels, such as your ethnic background and socioeconomic status. Studies have proven links between low socioeconomic status as well as BAME (Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnicity) backgrounds with higher blood pressure levels.
Treatment for high blood pressure starts with lifestyle changes in diet in exercise. Your doctor might ask for an ambulatory blood pressure monitor to record measurements throughout the day and calculate an average blood pressure reading.
If lifestyle changes do not make a difference, then medication can be given to help control blood pressure levels. Different medicines work for different people, and sometimes the first medicine might not always be the most suitable. Medicines will depend on age, ethnicity, and average overall blood pressure levels.
Angina
Angina is a centralised chest pain that occurs due to a reduction of blood flow to the heart muscle in arteries becoming narrowed by fatty substances. This is known as Atherosclerosis. Angina is not usually life-threatening but can pose a warning that patients may be at risk of a heart attack or stroke. Symptoms of Angina can be controlled with treatment and lifestyle changes and can ultimately reduce the risk of further issues or co-morbidities.
Anginal chest pain can feel like a tight squeeze on the chest or a dull ache that does not go away. This feeling may spread to the arms, jaw, and back and sometimes feel like some of the symptoms of a heart attack. Anginal pain is usually triggered by physical activity or stress and normally stops after a few minutes of rest.
There are usually two main types of Angina, known as Stable and Unstable:
Stable Angina - Stable angina is more common and is normally associated with triggers such as exercise and stress. Symptoms normally subside after a few minutes of rest.
Unstable Angina - Unstable Angina is less common but more serious as attacks do not normally have a trigger and are usually unpredictable. Symptoms might continue despite rest and may impact a person's activities. Some people tend to develop unstable angina after having stable angina. Several medications may be needed to control the symptoms of angina depending on their severity.
Treatment for Angina might include:
• Medicines to manage the risk of stroke and heart attacks
• Treat attacks when they happen
• Prevent further attacks
Sometimes medicines and other treatments might not prove to be effective, so other treatment options such as procedures to increase the blood flow to the heart might be performed to reduce the symptoms of Angina.
Lifestyle changes can make a big difference in symptoms. Changes like a balanced diet, cutting down on alcohol and quitting smoking, losing weight and regular exercise can all help to improve cardiac health and symptoms of Angina.
Stroke
A stroke is a serious, life-threatening condition that occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off. A stroke requires immediate and urgent treatment to minimise the damage to the brain and allow for a better prognosis following immediate treatment.
The brain requires oxygenated blood to function properly. Any restriction or blockage to the supply of blood to the brain causes brain cells to die, which leads to the loss of brain function. In the long term, a stroke can lead to brain damage, severe disability, and even death if not treated immediately. There are two main types of stroke which occur and impact the blood flow to the brain in different ways. These are:
• Ischaemic Stroke - This is when blood supply is stopped or reduced because of a blood clot, which accounts for 85% of all strokes. Blood clots are usually formed due to coronary artery disease, with clots formed through the process of atherosclerosis.
• Haemorrhagic Stroke - this stroke, accounting for less than 15% of all strokes, occurs when blood vessels supplying blood to the brain become weakened and burst or rupture. Blood vessels can be affected by atherosclerosis or can become weaker with age and other co-morbidities such as Diabetes.
Certain conditions increase the risks of a stroke occurring. Some of these conditions are:
• High Blood Pressure - this impacts the walls of the blood vessels and weakens them adding increased strain, which can lead to a rupture.
• High Cholesterol - increases the fatty deposits inside the arteries leading to atherosclerosis and plaque build-up which aids in forming a clot
• Atrial Fibrillation - AF means that blood is not pumped properly and so can stagnate in the heart, causing clots to form which can travel to the brain and other organs.
• Diabetes - Diabetes increases the risk of blood vessels becoming brittle and weak, making them stiffer over time which can cause damage and can also burst or cause a rupture.
Treatments for a stroke depend on the factors that caused the stroke, and the timeline of events that have happened since the stroke. If a stroke has been caused by a blood clot (i.e. Ischaemic strokes), then a procedure known as a thrombolysis will need to be performed to break the clot. Other medications such as blood thinners, cholesterol medication, and blood pressure medicines are also given to reduce the risk of recurrence. Sometimes a clot might need to be surgically removed, or a bleed stopped if the cause of the stroke was Haemorrhagic.
Some people may need periods of rehabilitation following their stroke to regain their strength and body function. This will vary from person to person depending on the severity of the stroke and further treatment methods. Some people might not recover fully, but they can still regain some strength to perform normal daily tasks. Sometimes, people who have already had a stroke are at higher risk of having another one without any changes to their diet, alcohol intake, and exercise capability.
Structural Heart Issues
Structural heart disease refers to any conditions that affect the heart muscle. This could affect the sizes of the chambers of the heart, the blood vessels or the
Angina
Angina is a centralised chest pain which occurs due to a reduction of blood flow to the heart muscle in arteries becoming narrowed by fatty-substances. This is known as Atherosclerosis. Angina is not usually life threatening but can pose a warning that patients may be at risk from a heart attack or stroke. Symptoms of Angina can be controlled with treatment and lifestyle changes and can ultimately reduce the risk of further issues or co-morbidities.
Anginal chest pain can feel like a tight squeeze on the chest or a dull ache which does not go away. This feeling may spread to the arms, jaw and back and sometimes feel like some of the symptoms of a heart attack. Anginal pain is usually triggered by physical activity or stress and normally stops after a few minutes of rest.
There are usually two main types of Angina, known as Stable and Unstable:
Stable Angina - Stable angina is more common and is normally associated with triggers such as exercise and stress. Symptoms normally subside after a few minutes of rest.
Unstable Angina - Unstable Angina is less common but more serious as attacks do not normally have a trigger and are usually unpredictable. Symptoms might continue despite rest and may impact a persons activities. Some people tend to develop unstable angina after having stable angina. Several medications may be needed to control the symptoms of angina depending on their severity.
Treatment for Angina might include:
• Medicines to manage the risk of stroke and heart attacks
• Treat attacks when they happen
• Prevent further attacks
Sometimes medicines and other treatments might not prove to be effective, and so other treatment options such as procedures to increase the blood flow to the heart might be performed to reduce the symptoms of Angina.
Lifestyle changes can make a big difference with symptoms. Changes like a balanced diet, cutting down on alcohol and quitting smoking, losing weight and regular exercise can all help to improve cardiac health and symptoms of Angina.