Did you ever feel a sharp pain or severe discomfort in your chest? If yes, chances are that you have already experienced angina before. Angina, more commonly referred to as chest pain, is not a disease in itself. It, however, stands as a warning that something is just not right with your heart. In other words, it gives you an indication that a heart-related disease is knocking on your doors and you need to take measures to evade it.

So, what exactly is angina? Is it something you can let go of or something you should be extremely concerned about? Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about angina.

What are the causes of angina?
When there is not enough blood to pass through your heart, you experience chest pain. This might happen due to a number of reasons, a few of which include an artery blockage in your lungs or damaged arteries that block the supply of oxygen to your heart. Common triggers for this include frequent smoking, increased blood sugar level in the body, a sedentary lifestyle, excessive heavy meals, or depression.

Types of angina
There are three common types that you should be aware of. The first one is the milder form of chest pain, known as stable angina. This lasts for a few minutes and is triggered by stressful activities. The next type is an unstable angina that is stronger than the first one. It generally gets triggered by a sedentary lifestyle and leads to sharper chest pain. The third and the most serious type is variant angina, also known as Prinzmetal’s Angina. It gets triggered by sudden tightening of the arteries and causes immense pain. You will require immediate medical attention if you’re suffering from this.

Symptoms of angina
While mild to sharp pain in your chest remains the most common symptom, other signs that you are suffering from angina includes a growing discomfort, a tingling or a burning sensation in your heart, sudden pressuring or squeezing in your chest, and a sharp pain in your chest, shoulders, arms, and neck. Severe stomach cramps, breathlessness, indigestion, severe vomiting, and nausea are also symptoms.

How to treat it?
While a stable angina is easier to treat with a slight change in your lifestyle, like losing weight, quitting smoking, or avoiding stress, the other two types require medical attention as these are more serious and indicate that a severe heart problem is on its way. A medical expert will guide you in the correct way to prevent chest pain in the future. Medical treatments include the consumption of nitrates, anti-platelet medicines, and anticoagulants. Most of these medicines are efficient enough to prevent any blood clots in the arteries, as they lower your body’s cholesterol and blood pressure. If these medicines do not work, the medical expert recommends you to undergo a surgery.