Can You Tell the Difference Between Angina and a Heart Attack?

In dealing with heart disease, you need to be aware that the symptoms of angina are quite similar to those of a heart attack but in an angina episode the heart does not suffer the same amount of damage. This is quite important because the difference could mean life or death.

What is angina?

Angina happens when the arteries that wrap the heart get partially obstructed; this impedes the blood to reach the heart in the usual way. The artery blockage is the result of cholesterol or fat stuck to the inside walls of the artery.

What triggers an angina attack?

Angina usually happens when....

1. When your heart is working harder than usual. An example will be having a large meal, experiencing stress, or during intense physical exercise. In these particular cases, the discomfort usually goes away in a few minutes and we call it stable angina.

1. All of the sudden (it may happen even when you are sleeping). This type of angina is more serious and requires urgent treatment. It lasts longer than the stable one and it is a sign that a heart attack may happen soon. Without adequate treatment, it has the tendency to repeat itself. It is usually caused by previous damage in the arteries, such as atherosclerosis. We know this type of angina as unstable angina.

Because of the hormonal protection in women, scientists used to think that this type of angina was more common in men than in women but an extensive study published by the American Heart Association throws some doubts about this theory. According to this research, carried out by the University College of London, women have a 20% more risk of suffering from angina than men.

Is it a heart attack or is angina?

Although a heart attack and an angina are caused by the same mechanisms, their seriousness and health implications are not the same. In an angina, the blockage is about 70% and the heart goes back to its normal business after overcoming the episode. However, in a heart attack, the blockage is 100%, lasts longer and the heart cells suffer irreversible damage. A heart attack can be fatal.

In spite of angina not being as serious as a heart attack, do not fall into the error of thinking that an angina episode is not important; if the alterations that cause it are not taken care of, it may end up in a heart attack.

Detecting and controlling angina

Most frequents symptoms of angina are:

• Intense pain that appears all of the sudden in the middle of the chest or in the pit of the stomach. It usually extends to the shoulders, left arm, neck, jaw, and back.
• Acceleration of pulse.
• Feeling of being cold, sweating, and paleness.
• Anxiety and feeling of imminent death.

In a stable angina, when you stop the effort you are making, the pain may also disappear. However, you need to go to the emergency room where they will conduct an evaluation of your risk for having new episodes. After an angina episode you may need treatment or regular check ups.

Final thought

It's thought that nearly 7 million people in the United States suffer from angina and about 400,000 patients go to their doctors with new cases of angina every year. To prevent an angina episode or a heart attack, limit your risk factors. Among those are smoking tobacco, overweight, and hypertension. Being physically active, avoiding stress, and following a healthy diet such as an Authentic Mediterranean Diet, is also a prevention measure not to be discarded when it comes to heart disease.

Have a Healthy Day

Emilia Klapp, BS, RD.