Angina Overview

Angina (angina pectoris) is chest pain, discomfort, or pressure that results from a reduced supply of blood to the heart muscle. There are three types of angina:

• Stable angina
  Stable angina is the most common type of angina. It is a chronic condition that occurs during physical activity or emotional stress and stops with rest or medications.
• Unstable angina
  Unstable angina may occur during physical activity or while resting. It is more severe than stable angina and doesn't respond to medication. Unstable angina is a sign of an impending heart attack and requires emergency treatment.
• Variant angina
  Variant angina is a rare type of angina. It is a temporary spasm that constricts an artery. The spasm may be stopped with medication.

How the heart works

The heart is a muscle that pumps blood throughout the body. The heart, blood vessels, and blood make up the body's cardiovascular system, which helps:

• Bring oxygen and nutrients to the body.
• Remove carbon dioxide and waste products from the body.

The right side of the heart pumps oxygen-poor blood to the lungs, where the blood picks up oxygen. The blood is then returned to the left side of the heart, which pumps the oxygen-rich blood to the body. Each side of the heart has two chambers. The upper chambers are called atria (singular: atrium). The lower chambers are called ventricles. Valves control the flow of blood between the atria and the ventricles.

A heartbeat is a single pulsation of the heart. First the atria contract, then the ventricles contract, and then the entire heart relaxes. The heart's electrical system controls the speed of a person's heartbeat.

About heart disease

Heart disease is a general term for any disorder of the heart and its ability to circulate blood throughout the body. The common types of heart disease include angina, coronary artery disease, heart attack, heart failure, and heart arrhythmias.

Most types of heart disease are usually caused by atherosclerosis, which is a build up of fatty deposits (plaques) on the inner walls of the blood vessels. If left untreated, the blood vessels narrow and may become blocked, which interferes with the supply of blood throughout the body. Heart disease may also be caused by an infectious disease (such as rheumatic fever due to strep throat) or a congenital heart disease (such as heart obstruction defects present at birth)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability.
• Almost 700,000 people die of heart disease in the U.S. each year. This is 29% of all deaths.
• Approximately half of the heart disease deaths were women.
• The age–adjusted death rates for heart disease were 30% higher among African Americans than among whites.