Is Angina Dangerous?

Angina is something many people in older years experience at one time or another, though it is often misunderstood. Angina in and of itself is not dangerous, but the medical problems angina can lead to are what make angina a relatively dangerous medical problem.

Angina

• Angina is chest pain and discomfort caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. Many people describe it as pressure, tightness, squeezing or a heavy feeling in your chest. There are three types of angina: stable, unstable and variant angina, all of which are a symptom of coronary artery disease.

Daily Life

• Angina can affect your daily life in a variety of ways. Because angina is caused from restricted blood flow, things such as exercise, walking and even housecleaning can become painful and difficult, as the heart is having to work harder to maintain oxygen flow. Changing habits such as quitting smoking, overeating less often and pacing yourself during exercise can help decrease angina episodes.

Complications

• The most serious complication of angina is a heart attack or myocardial infarction. Because angina can be a prelude to a heart attack, any chest pain, regardless of how painful it may be or how serious it may seem at the time, should be checked out by a doctor as it could cause irreversible damage.