Stable angina is chest pain or discomfort that typically occurs with activity or stress. Angina is a type of chest discomfort. Caused by poor blood flow through the blood vessels (coronary vessels) of the heart muscle (myocardium).
Your heart muscle is working all the time, so it needs a continuous supply of oxygen. This oxygen is provided by the coronary arteries, which carry blood. When the heart muscle has to work harder, it needs more oxygen. Symptoms of angina occur when the coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked by hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), or by a blood clot.
The most common cause of stable angina is coronary heart disease (CHD). Angina pectoris is the medical term for this type of chest pain. Stable angina is predictable chest pain. Although less serious than unstable angina, it can be very painful or uncomfortable.
The most common symptom is chest pain that occurs behind the breastbone or slightly to the left of it.
The pain of stable angina usually begins slowly and gets worse over the next few minutes before going away.
The pain may feel like tightness, heavy pressure, squeezing, or crushing pain. It may spread to the arm (usually the left), back, jaw, neck and shoulder. Some people say the pain feels like gas or indigestion.
Also Read: Ischemic Heart Disease – Aiding Treatment With Lifestyle And Diet Modifications
Other symptoms of angina include a feeling of indigestion or heartburn, dizziness or light-headedness, nausea, vomiting, and sweating, palpitations, shortness of breath and unexplained tiredness after activity (more common in women).
The Symptoms Of Stable Angina
- The Pain occurs after some activity, stress or exertion
- Lasts an average of 1 – 15 minutes
- Is relieved with rest or a medicine
Lifestyle and Diet Alterations
The best way to prevent stable angina is to lower your risk for coronary heart disease. Some possible lifestyle changes to achieve this:
- Avoid or reduce stress as much as you can.
- Control your blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol.
- Eat well-balanced meals that are low in fat and cholesterol and include several daily servings of fruits and vegetables.
- Get regular exercise. If your weight is considered normal, get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. However, talk to your doctor before beginning or increasing your activity or exercise level.
- Lose weight if you are overweight.
- Stop smoking
- Moderate amounts of alcohol (one glass a day for women, two for men) may reduce your risk of heart problems. However, drinking larger amounts does more harm than good.
Also Read: Unstable Angina – Go For These Lifestyle And Diet Changes
