Causes of Angina

People with higher chances of having angina are those who have the following conditions or life style:

• Unhealthy cholesterol levels
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Tobacco use
• Diabetes
• Obesity and over weight
• Metabolic syndrome
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Men over the 45 and women over 55 years of age
• Family record of early heart illness 

Causes:

The most popular cause of Angina is Coronary Artery disease. However, there are other factors such as smoking cholesterol, blood sugar that can form plaques, narrowing the arteries and which can also break off and form blood clots obstructing the arteries.

Chronic Angina is specifically caused by the reduced oxygen supply to the heart, reason why physical activity is the most common trigger since the heart will require more oxygen but there´s not enough. Stress, heavy meals, smoking and even the long exposure to high temperatures can trigger angina attacks.

Artery total or partial blockage by blood clots are the main cause of unstable angina, therefore it increases the risks of having a heart attack.

Variant angina is caused when an artery senses a spasm/tremor that provokes it to tense and narrow, disrupting blood supply to the heart. This can be induced by exposure to cold, stress, pharmaceuticals, smoking, or cocaine use.

Symptoms:

Angina symptoms include pressure, heaviness, burning, tightening, squeezing, or aching across the chest, particularly behind the breastbone. Pain can also be felt in the neck, jaw, arms, back, or even the teeth.

Additionally, the following symptoms can be present:  indigestion, heartburn, weakness, sweating, nausea, cramping, and shortness of breath.

Angina and its classification

Angina is chest pain, agony, or stiffness that happens when an part of the heart muscle is acquiring reduced blood oxygen supply. It is not a illness itself, but rather a symptom of coronary artery disease, the most common class of heart sickness. The deficit of oxygen rich blood to the heart is normally an outcome of narrower coronary arteries due to plaque buildup, a condition named atherosclerosis. Thin arteries magnify the chance of pain, coronary arterydisease, heart attack, and death.

Angina can manifest in the form of attack, pain or discomfort in the chest, which can last from one (1) to fifteen (15) minutes. Angina is also classified in three levels, which are

Stable (or chronic) angina: the heart works harder than usual (exercise); it follows a regular pattern, predictable to occur over a short or long time period. This is relieved by resting or using medicines.


Unstable angina: as its name says, this is the uncommon type. It can happen at any moment, even when at rest. So, it is not relieved by rest or medicine and can be a warning sign of sudden (within weeks-hours) or future heart attack. Because of it, this is the most dangerous type.


Variant (Prinzmetal's) angina and microvascular (smallest vessels) angina: Similar to Unstable angina, this is very rare and unstable as well, and the person does not necessarily need to have an underlying heart disease. The atypical thinning or contraction of blood vessels causes this type of angina. However, different to Unstable Angina, this is relieved with medications.

The Heart

Just like the rest of the body parts, the heart is another muscle that needs oxygen and enough blood supply in order to function properly. So when there is not enough, certain conditions will appear that are a main cause of disability. There are many different forms of heart illness. The most frequent cause of heart disease is narrowing or obstruction of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that provide blood to the heart itself. This is named coronary artery disease and occurs gradually over time. It's the major reason people have heart attacks.

Other types of heart problems can occur to the valves in the heart, or the heart may not pump well and provoke heart failure. Many people are born with heart conditions.