Angina pectoris (chest pain) signals coronary artery disease (CAD). Learn about the various treatment from the Department of Cardiology at National Heart Centre Singapore (SingHealth).
Angina pectoris, or simply angina, is commonly known as chest pain.
Angina is one of the most common symptoms of
coronary artery disease (heart disease) and is sometimes difficult to distinguish from other types of chest pain, such as discomfort from indigestion.
“Angina (angina pectoris) is a type of
chest pain typically described as a squeezing sensation, pressure, heaviness or tightness in the chest,” says Clinical Assistant Professor Fam Jiang Ming, Senior Consultant,
Department of Cardiology,
National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS), a member of the
He adds, “If the pain can be felt in the shoulders, arms, neck, or back, and is accompanied by sweating, shortness of breath and nausea, you should seek emergency help immediately.”
Treatment for chest pain (angina)
Treatment of angina (angina pectoris) varies according to the severity of the condition. In most cases where patients suffer from mild angina, a combination of lifestyle changes and medication can help control symptoms.
Lifestyle changes often include:
Eating a healthy diet
Lowering cholesterol levels
Quitting smoking (if the patient is a smoker), as well as
Controlling diabetes and high blood pressure.
Medicine used to treat angina work either by increasing the amount of oxygen delivered to the heart or reducing the heart’s need for oxygen.
4 Common prescribed medicines to treat chest pain (angina)
Nitrates can prevent angina attacks and also relieve symptoms of angina. They work by relaxing blood vessels to the heart, thus increasing blood and oxygen supply.
Examples of nitrates are isosorbide dinitrate (tablets) and glyceryl trinitrate, also called GTN (sublingual tablets or transdermal patch).
Potential side effects of nitrates:
Flushing (redness of the skin)
Dizziness, fainting spells, rapid heartbeats
Reddening, itching or burning sensation (where the GTN patch was applied)
These side effects tend to be temporary. A painkiller or paracetamol can be taken to relieve the headaches. Contact your doctor if symptoms persist.
2. Beta blockers
Besides preventing chest pain, beta blockers are also commonly used in the long term treatment of heart attack patients. According to Prof Fam, they help reduce workload of the heart by “lowering heart rate and blood pressure.”
Examples of beta blockers are acebutolol, atenolol, bisoprolol, carvedilol, metoprolol, nebivolol and propranolol.
Potential side effects of beta blockers:
Shortness of breath, fainting spells and male impotence are all possible symptoms associated with the use of beta blockers. If you experience any of them, consult your doctor.
3. Calcium channel blockers
Calcium channel blockers control chest pain by relaxing blood vessels to increase blood supply to the heart, while slowing down heart rate. Apart from preventing angina, they can be used to treat high blood pressure and irregular heartbeats.
Examples of calcium channel blockers are amlodipine, diltiazem, nifedipine and verapamil.
Potential side effects of calcium channel blockers:
Symptoms such as frequent or more severe chest pain, rapid pounding or irregular heartbeats and fainting spells are considered rare, but should be highlighted to a doctor if they occur.
By preserving the energy metabolism of heart muscle cells, trimetazidime helps to reduce the frequency of angina attacks and reduce the use of nitrates. It is mainly used as a second line agent when the patient does not have adequate control by or develop intolerance to first line medications.
Gastrointestinal discomfort such as nausea and vomiting is a potential side effect which is usually mild.
In conclusion, medical therapy has been used effectively in the treatment of heart attack. While most patients tolerate the medications well, there is still a possibility of developing side effects to these medications. Always consult a doctor if you notice possible side effects or experience a worsening of your condition such as an increase in severity or frequency of angina as this means that your treatment may have to be adjusted.
Causes of chest pain (angina)
Angina (angina pectoris) is caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. It is most often the result of coronary artery disease, where fatty deposits called plaques limit the supply of oxygen-rich blood going to your heart.
During times when oxygen demand is low, such as when you’re at rest, your heart may be able to get by on the reduced amount of blood flow. However, when there’s an increase in the demand for oxygen like during exercise, angina may set in.
Angina pectoris (maumivu ya kifua) huonyesha ugonjwa wa mishipa ya damu (CAD). Jifunze kuhusu matibabu mbalimbali kutoka Idara ya Cardiology katika Kituo cha Taifa cha Moyo Singapore (SingHealth). Angina pectoris, au angina tu, kwa kawaida huitwa maumivu ya kifua. Angina ni moja ya dalili za kawaida za ugonjwa wa moyo na wakati mwingine ni vigumu kutofautisha na aina nyingine za maumivu ya kifua, kama vile usumbufu kutokana na matatizo ya kumeng'enya chakula. "Angina ni aina ya maumivu ya kifua ambayo kwa kawaida huelezwa kama hisia ya kukandamiza, shinikizo, uzito au nguvu katika kifua, ""anasema Profesa Msaidizi wa Kliniki, Profesa wa Kimatibabu, Mshauri Mkuu, Idara ya Cardiology, Kituo cha Taifa cha Moyo cha Singapore (NHCS), mwanachama wa WHO, ""Ikiwa maumivu yanaweza kuhisiwa kwenye mabega, mikono, shingo, au nyuma, na yanaambatana na jasho, upungufu wa pumzi na kichefuchefu, unapaswa kutafuta msaada wa dharura mara moja." Katika visa vingi ambapo wagonjwa wanateseka kutokana na angina ya kiasi kidogo, mchanganyiko wa mabadiliko ya mtindo wa maisha na dawa zaweza kusaidia kudhibiti dalili. Mabadiliko ya mtindo wa maisha mara nyingi ni pamoja na: Kula chakula cha afya Kupunguza viwango vya cholesterol Kuacha kuvuta sigara (kama mgonjwa ni mvutaji sigara), pamoja na Kudhibiti kisukari na shinikizo la damu. Dawa zinazotumiwa kutibu angina hufanya kazi kwa kuongeza kiasi cha oksijeni inayopelekwa moyoni au kupunguza uhitaji wa oksijeni wa moyo. Dawa za kawaida zinazopendekezwa kutibu maumivu ya kifua (angina) Nitrates zinaweza kuzuia mashambulizi ya angina na pia kupunguza dalili za angina. Hufanya kazi kwa kupumzika mishipa ya damu inayoelekea moyoni, na hivyo kuongeza ugavi wa damu na oksijeni. Nitrate ni isosorbide dinitrate (isopropyl nitrate) na gliceryl trinitrate (gliceryl trinitrate) ambayo pia huitwa nitrate ya sub-lingual (GTN). Matokeo ya athari za nitrate: Ridding (kuchanganyikiwa kwa ngozi) Dizziness, kuzimia, moyo wa moyo wa haraka, kuharibika, kuchachanya au kuwaka (ambapo patch ya GTN ilitumiwa) Matokeo haya ya upande huwa ya muda mfupi. Dawa ya kupunguza maumivu au paracetamol yaweza kutumiwa kupunguza maumivu ya kichwa. Wasiliana na daktari wako ikiwa dalili zinaendelea. 2. Uwezekano wa kupata Beta blockers ni dawa ya kuzuia maumivu ya kifua na pia ni dawa ya muda mrefu ya kushughulikia matatizo ya moyo. Kulingana na Profesa Fam, husaidia kupunguza mzigo wa kazi ya moyo kwa <unk>kupunguza msukumo wa moyo na shinikizo la damu.<unk> Mifano ya beta blockers ni acebutolol, atenolol, bisoprolol, carvedilol, metoprolol, nebivolol na propranolol. Matokeo ya athari za beta-blocker: Ugonjwa wa kupumua, kukosa fahamu, na kutokuwa na uwezo wa kufanya kazi ni dalili zote zinazoweza kuhusishwa na matumizi ya beta-blocker. Ikiwa una matatizo yoyote ya kawaida, wasiliana na daktari wako. 3. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Calcium channel blockers: Calcium channel blockers hupunguza maumivu ya kifua kwa kupunguza mishipa ya damu ili kuongeza usambazaji wa damu kwa moyo, wakati wa kupunguza kasi ya moyo. Mbali na kuzuia angina, zinaweza kutumiwa kutibu shinikizo la damu la juu na mapigo ya moyo yasiyo ya kawaida. Mifano ya calcium channel blockers ni amlodipine, diltiazem, nifedipine na verapamil. Madhara ya uwezekano wa kuzuia njia za kalsiamu: Dalili kama vile maumivu ya kifua ya mara kwa mara au kali zaidi, kupiga kwa kasi au kupiga moyo usio wa kawaida na kuzimia ni nadra, lakini inapaswa kuonyeshwa kwa daktari ikiwa hutokea. Kwa kuhifadhi kimetaboliki ya nishati ya seli za misuli ya moyo, trimetazidime husaidia kupunguza mzunguko wa mashambulizi ya angina na kupunguza matumizi ya nitrati. Inatumika kama dawa ya mstari wa pili wakati mgonjwa hana udhibiti wa kutosha au anaendelea kutovumilia dawa za mstari wa kwanza. Ugonjwa wa utumbo kama vile kichefuchefu na kutapika ni athari ya uwezekano ambayo kwa kawaida ni laini. Kwa kumalizia, tiba ya kitiba imetumiwa kwa matokeo katika kutibu mshtuko wa moyo. Ingawa wagonjwa wengi huvumilia dawa hizo vizuri, bado kuna uwezekano wa kupata madhara ya dawa hizo. Mshauri daktari wako kila wakati ikiwa unaona athari za upande au hali yako inazidi kuwa mbaya, kama vile kuongezeka kwa uzito au mzunguko wa angina, kwani hii inamaanisha kuwa matibabu yako yanaweza kubadilishwa. Angina (angina pectoris) ni ugonjwa wa moyo unaosababishwa na kupungua kwa mtiririko wa damu kwenye misuli ya moyo. Mara nyingi ni matokeo ya ugonjwa wa mishipa ya damu, ambapo amana za mafuta zinazoitwa plaques hupunguza usambazaji wa damu yenye oksijeni kwenda kwa moyo wako. Wakati mahitaji ya oksijeni ni ya chini, kama vile wakati wewe ni katika mapumziko, moyo wako inaweza kuwa na uwezo wa kupata kwa kiasi cha kupunguzwa kwa mtiririko wa damu. Hata hivyo, wakati kuna ongezeko la mahitaji ya oksijeni kama wakati wa mazoezi, angina inaweza kuanzishwa.