Angina, mild

Etiologic and Other Factors Leading to Mild Angina:

1. Etiologic (Underlying) Factors:
   • Coronary artery disease (CAD): The most common cause, due to reduced blood flow from plaque buildup.
   • Spasm of coronary arteries: Can temporarily reduce blood flow (e.g., Prinzmetal’s angina).
   • Anemia: Reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of blood can lead to chest pain.
   • High blood pressure (hypertension): Places strain on the heart and can trigger angina.
   • Emotional stress: Can cause increased heart rate and blood pressure, leading to angina.
   • Physical exertion: Overexertion may increase oxygen demand that exceeds supply.
   • Cold exposure: Causes blood vessels to constrict, limiting blood flow.
2. Other Contributing Factors:
   • Smoking, diabetes, obesity, or a sedentary lifestyle can predispose someone to angina.
   • Poor diet high in saturated fats or refined carbs.
   • Use of stimulants like caffeine or medications that raise blood pressure.

Signs to Seek Professional Help:

You should seek medical attention if you notice the following:

1. Symptoms worsening or occurring at rest: Chest pain lasting more than 10 minutes.
2. Pain radiating: To the jaw, arm, or back, or if it’s associated with nausea, dizziness, or fainting.
3. Uncertainty about diagnosis: If you’ve never experienced angina before.
4. Irregular heart rhythms: Accompanying chest pain.
5. Lack of response to nitroglycerin (if prescribed): Indicates a potential emergency.
6. Shortness of breath or sweating: Suggestive of a more serious condition like a heart attack.

Christopher Hobbs:

“Angina refers to a feeling of suffocating pain. Angina pectoris is chest pain caused by a blockage of the arteries that feed the heart muscle. Diet and stress are major contributors to the degeneration of blood vessel health, a process which begins as early as the first decade of life and has usually reached a critical phase from 40-50 years of age. Consult your health care provider if you experience this condition.”