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From the National Institutes of HealthNational Institutes of Health
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Angina

 

 
 

Angina is chest pain or discomfort you get when your heart muscle does not get enough blood. It may feel like pressure or a squeezing pain in your chest. It may feel like indigestion. You may also feel pain in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back.

Angina is a symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common heart disease. CAD happens when a sticky substance called plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart, reducing blood flow.

There are three types of angina: stable, unstable and variant. Unstable angina is the most dangerous. It does not follow a pattern and can happen without physical exertion. It does not go away with rest or medicine. It is a sign that you could have a heart attack soon.

Not all chest pain or discomfort is angina. If you have chest pain, you should see your health care provider.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

 
 
 

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    • AnginaFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
    • Also available in Spanish
    • AnginaInteractive Tutorial(Patient Education Institute)
    • Also available in Spanish
 

 

 
 
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