What is Angina?
Angina is a pain or discomfort in the chest. It often has a squeezing or pressure-like feel. This discomfort can also be felt in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaws, or back. Anginal pain usually lasts for no more than 2-10 minutes. It is relieved by rest or nitroglycerin .
Types of angina include:
- Stable angina-has a predictable pattern. You generally know what brings it on and relieves it. You may also know what the intensity will be.
- Unstable angina-is more unpredictable or severe. Chest pain may occur while resting or even sleeping (nocturnal angina). The discomfort may last longer and be more intense than that of stable angina.
- Unstable angina may be a sign that you are about to have a heart attack . It should be treated as an emergency.
- Variant or prinzmetal's angina-occurs when you are at rest. It most often occurs in the middle of the night. It can be quite severe.