There are several types of heart problems a patient can develop for a number of reasons, whether it’s due to genetics, poor diet, lack of exercise, tobacco use, or something else. The most common heart condition people develop in the United States is coronary artery disease (CAD), a type of heart disease that occurs when there is too much plaque buildup inside the arteries that carry blood to the heart. With CAD comes a number of related issues, two of which are angina and heart attacks.
What Is Coronary Artery Disease?
Before we can explain the difference between angina and heart attacks, let’s first look at the disease that causes both: coronary artery disease, or CAD.
CAD is caused by plaque buildup on the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart. This plaque, sometimes referred to as fatty deposits, is composed of several substances, including:
- Cholesterol
- Fat
- Calcium
- Blood cells
As the buildup continues to grow (a development clinically referred to as “atherosclerosis”), the arteries become increasingly constricted, limiting the blood flow to the heart, which limits the nutrients the heart needs to function properly.
It’s this buildup that can lead to events like angina or heart attacks. In many cases, angina and heart attacks occur at the same time, causing many to confuse the two or refer to them interchangeably. While both are caused by CAD, occur as a result of plaque buildup in the arteries, and can occur at the same time, angina and heart attacks are two different experiences with differing outcomes.
What Is Angina?
Angina is the medical term for chest pain, most commonly caused by CAD. When blood flow is restricted because of atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup in the arteries, and not enough blood makes it to the heart, the heart sends out warning signals to the brain’s sensory cortex. This signal lets the brain and body know that something is wrong with the heart. A person experiencing a heart attack will likely feel chest pain (angina) as the first symptom or at least one of the most notable symptoms of the attack.
However, angina can also occur independent of a heart attack—the heart may not be completely deprived of blood just yet, but it can signal that something is wrong if it is not receiving enough blood.
Non-heart-attack angina is usually short-lived, lasting only a few minutes until it subsides.
What Does Angina Feel Like?
Angina is typically felt in the chest behind the breastbone, where the heart is located. Patients with angina tend to experience sensations in the chest that feel like:
- Pressure buildup
- Squeezing
- Burning
Patients may also experience referred pain in the arms, back, shoulders, neck, or jaw. They can also experience breathing difficulties, such as shortness of breath or feelings of suffocation.
During an angina episode, women may experience additional issues that, on the surface, are hard to connect to heart disease. These less obvious symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body weakness
- Nausea or indigestion
These “atypical” symptoms are common in cases of the flu, which is why women often interpret a heart attack as a bout of the flu at first.
What Can Trigger Angina?
Patients with restricted arteries may still receive enough blood to the heart when the body is at rest and the heart rate is not elevated. It’s elevated heart rates that make the heart work harder to pump blood throughout the body. If arteries are narrowed, the combination of harder work and restricted blood flow can lead to angina episodes.
Circumstances that can elevate heart rates include:
- Physical activity
- Periods of high stress
- Tobacco use (especially smoking)
- Drug use
- Alcohol consumption
- Heat/hot weather
- Consuming large amounts of food
What Is a Heart Attack?
A heart attack is an event where an artery or arteries to the heart are completely blocked, preventing blood from supplying nutrients to the heart. The heart requires a constant flow of nutrient-rich blood so that it can get the oxygen it needs to function properly. If a section of the heart is deprived of that oxygen and nutrients, even for a short period, it will begin to die, causing the patient to experience a heart attack.
As a heart attack occurs or develops, the heart will likely send warning signals to the sensory cortex in the brain, causing the patient to experience angina, among other symptoms.
How to Tell if It’s an Angina Episode or a Heart Attack
Since angina can occur as part of a heart attack or independent of a heart attack, it can be hard to determine which event a patient is experiencing.
Patients experiencing angina for the first time should not “wait it out and see what happens.” It’s important to seek medical attention to ensure you are not having a heart attack or to get the care you need if you are having a heart attack. It’s also important to schedule an appointment with a trusted cardiologist to address the underlying issues causing the angina or heart attack in the first place.
Patients who occasionally experience bouts of angina may be more inclined to wait and see if it will subside or worsen. It’s critical to seek immediate medical attention if:
- Pain worsens
- New pain develops
- Angina begins when the heart is at rest
- You experience additional symptoms, such as:
- Cold sweats
- Dizziness
- Coughing and wheezing
- Physical weakness
- Fatigue
Coronary artery disease. Angina. Heart attacks. Protect yourself from these heart-harmful issues with cardiology care from Middle Georgia Heart.
Our heart doctors offer the treatment, management, and cardiology care you need to restore your heart health and keep your body heart healthy. We understand the ins and outs of coronary artery disease and how to treat it or prevent it so that you can avoid experiencing angina or a heart attack.
If you would like to partner with Middle Georgia’s best cardiologists, schedule an appointment with Middle Georgia Heart today: 478-207-5224
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