Angina & Coronary Artery Disease
Angina pectoris, commonly called angina, describes chest pain resulting from decreased oxygen supply to the heart. Coronary artery disease is a condition where plaque accumulates on the lining of the coronary arteries, causing them to harden and narrow. For a Spanish-language version of the Guide, click here.
Expand All Guide SectionsAngina
The medical term “angina pectoris” actually means “squeezing of the chest” in Latin. Pressure, tightness and aching in the chest are characteristic of angina, among other sicknesses, which is why a thorough diagnosis is important. The American Heart Association estimates that 16,000,000 Americans suffer from angina, heart attack and other forms of coronary heart disease.
Dulcinea's Insight
- There are two different types of angina: stable and unstable. Stable angina occurs at predictable times, such as during physical exertion. Unstable angina is less predictable, sometimes occurring at rest, with more severe discomfort. Unstable angina warrants an immediate trip to the hospital.
Dulcinea's Picks
For an overview …
MedicineNet.com
has a solid introduction to the issues surrounding angina. Of particular interest is their coverage of the treatment options available to sufferers. For all treatments listed, including angioplasty and coronary artery bypass graft, there are links to pages with more specialized information.
MedlinePlus
, a joint effort of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, brings a quality introduction to angina via this interactive tutorial. It begins with an introduction and symptoms, gives an overview of relevant anatomical systems, and progresses into issues such as causes, diagnosis and prevention.
For statistics …
The American Heart Association
has a fact sheet with mortality, incidence and prevalence statistics for heart attack and angina. There are also links to other fact and statistic sheets like cholesterol and stroke statistics.
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease is defined by a buildup of fat deposits in the arteries (a process known as ... read more »
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