Angina is a condition that indicates inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle. Angina is a symptom of coronary heart disease. There are several general or classic signs and symptoms of angina. Women sometimes experience different angina symptoms than men do. It is critical for women to learn about the typical angina signs as well as the variant angina symptoms females sometimes experience.
General Signs and Symptoms of Angina
Angina usually manifests as chest pain, though this is not always the case. Symptoms of angina normally occur when a person physically exerts him or herself. This is because the heart is being forced to work harder. However, angina symptoms can also happen when a person is under emotional stress.
Signs of angina include chest pain that feels like pressure, tightness, heaviness, or fullness. Sometimes people also experience pain that is burning. Some individuals feel angina pain in their arms, shoulders, back, abdomen, or jaw. Some people who have angina pain also experience nausea, difficulty breathing, anxiety, sweating, dizziness, and fatigue.
Atypical Angina Signs and Symptoms in Women
Women are more likely than men to experience what are frequently thought of as atypical angina symptoms. Instead of angina chest pain that feels like pressure or tightness, women sometimes describe their chest pain as sharp, stabbing, or pulsating. Women’s chest pain is also frequently less intense than men’s. Some women do not experience chest pain at all and instead experience nausea, indigestion, and breathing difficulties. Women, more often than men, experience angina pain in areas of their bodies other than the chest, such as the jaw, arms, shoulders, or back.
Angina Diagnosis and When Angina Is a Medical Emergency
Whenever a person begins to experience chest pain, he or she should consult a doctor. If the doctor diagnoses the individual with angina, the doctor can prescribe medication and lifestyle modifications to help the patient keep the condition under control. After diagnosis, an individual should monitor his or her condition and report any changes to the doctor. Chest pain that is unexpected, occurs during rest, is more intense than normal, is not alleviated by rest and angina medication, and/or gets worse could be sign of a heart attack. Seek medical assistance immediately.
Sources:
MayoClinic.com, "Angina" (accessed January 22, 2010).
nhlbi.nih.gov, "What Is Angina?" (accessed January 23, 2010).
health.discovery.com, "What Are the Symptoms of Angina?" (accessed January 23, 2010).
Aimee Larsen Stoddard - Aimee is a professional writer/editor. She has a BA in English and is currently completing an MS in Theology.
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