Angina can appear ‘months’ before a heart attack

Dr Nighat reveals heart attacks symptoms in women

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Angina is the medicinal term for chest pain, most people who experience a heart attack experience chest pain, it’s one of the main signs of a heart attack.

However, Sutter Health says angina can appear months in advance of a heart attack actually striking.

Dr Xu of Sutter Health said: “For some people, symptoms can occur months or even longer before a heart attack occurs. For others, they might not experience anything before a heart attack happens.”

Dr Xu explained that other symptoms include chest pain, heaviness or discomfort, heart palpitations, cold sweats, and shortness of breath.

While these were symptoms that were likely to occur, Dr Xu cautioned that women were had a greater probability of experiencing different symptoms such as fatigue, a general sense of unease, vague discomfort, and back and abdominal pain, and declining stamina.

What does the NHS say about angina?

The NHS says of angina: Angina is chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscles.

“It’s not usually life threatening, but it’s a warning sign that you could be at risk of a heart attack or stroke.

“With treatment and healthy lifestyle changes, it’s possible to control angina and reduce the risk of these more serious problems.”

What are the main types of angina?

The main types of angina are stable and unstable angina. Stable angina attacks normally have a trigger such as a stress or exercise and stop within a few minutes of someone resting.

Meanwhile, unstable angina attacks may not have a trigger and continue even after someone has rested.

In common with other heart conditions, angina can be treated and if done so in the right way, can allow someone to live a normal life.

One of the main treatments for angina is mediation to help treat the attacks, prevent further attacks, and recue the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Alongside medication, other changes that can be made to improve angina include:
• Having a balanced diet
• Cutting down on alcohol
• Quitting smoking
• Losing weight
• Exercising regularly.

Angina is normally cause by the arteries supplying the heart muscles with blood becoming narrowed by a build-up of fatty substances, a process known as atherosclerosis.

Factors which can increase one’s risk of angina and the build-up of fatty substances, are the opposite of those which, if not done, can decrease one’s risk of the condition.

So, this means an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise and smoking. However, ageing and a family history of heart problems can also serve as factors.

While the main symptom of angina is chest pain, not all the symptoms are related to the chest area.

Other symptoms of atherosclerosis including feeling sick, feeling very tired, pain the lower belly.

Furthermore, pain in the lower chest and breathlessness are also symptoms.

While an unnerving and uncomfortable condition, it is still possible to lead a normal life with angina.

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