Angina

Angina is a pain or discomfort felt in the chest area, and often in the arms, neck, stomach or jaw, that occurs when the blood supply to the muscles of the heart is restricted. It is a symptom of coronary heart disease. If you would like more detailed information on angina, the British Heart Foundation is a good starting point.

The heart needs oxygen-rich blood to function correctly and blood is supplied to it by two large coronary arteries. Fatty substances in the blood can clog these arteries and make them narrower in a process called atherosclerosis.

The narrowing of arteries causes angina symptoms to develop and marks the beginning of coronary heart disease. Some people find that certain factors bring on their symptoms.

There is a helpful video on the NHS website, featuring a cardiologist who gives a full angina explanation including information about the symptoms of angina and angina treatment available.

If you have already been given an angina diagnosis, you may experience pain or discomfort that you can manage by taking your prescribed medication – read on to find out more about angina treatments in the next section.

If you have been given a diagnosis of angina and have an attack but feel that it is different to normal, or if your medication does not work, you could be having a heart attack. Symptoms of angina and symptoms of a heart attack are similar but a heart attack feels more severe.

If you experience any of the above symptoms, call 999 immediately and alert someone close by if possible. If you have a family member / friend with angina or any other heart conditions, visit the British Red Cross website to find out how to administer first aid in the event of a heart attack.

Living with angina can be challenging. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may find some daily tasks difficult. For example, if exercise is one of your angina triggers, you may find you have an attack when you over exert yourself. If cold weather triggers your angina, you may find winter challenging. You can manage the effects of angina attacks by taking your medication and resting. This should help you feel better soon and give you the energy to continue your daily tasks.

Angina causes some people to feel worried or stressed, which can have a negative impact on their daily life and overall health. If you are finding it difficult to manage your worries, try to talk about them with loved ones, friends or your GP. See our section on angina support for more information.

If you feel you need some equipment at home to help with daily tasks which are more challenging due to your angina symptoms, Healthcare Pro can help. We have a team of Occupational Therapists (OTs) to advise you how to use ‘daily living aids’ in the home to make things easier. 

If you have an angina diagnosis, you are likely to be prescribed a medication called glyceryl trinitrate (GNT) in a spray or tablet that dissolves under your tongue. This angina treatment works by relaxing and widening the blood vessels supplying blood to your heart. You may experience mild side effects as soon as you take it, for example, headaches, flushing and dizziness. Many people are able to manage their angina symptoms using this type of treatment for angina.

If you require further information about medications or types of surgery used as treatment for angina, please see the NHS website

Your GP or cardiologist will also strongly advise you to improve your overall health, diet and exercise levels in order to decrease your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Read on to find out more about how to improve your diet for angina.

Eating a healthy diet is essential to reduce your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. It may also stop your angina from getting any worse.

A balanced diet that includes lots of fruit, vegetables and fibre, with fewer foods that are high in saturated fat, is extremely important if you have heart disease. Reducing your blood cholesterol is also necessary, which you can achieve by limiting the amount of foods you eat that contain saturated fats. These foods cause harmful types of cholesterol which create a build-up of fatty deposits in your arteries.

Reducing your salt intake is also important because this will help lower your blood pressure. Remember that pre-packaged foods such as soups, ready meals, sandwiches, all contain salt at fairly high levels. Reducing your alcohol consumption is also highly recommended if you have been given an angina diagnosis.

If you need more advice or encouragement to follow a healthier diet for angina, speak to your GP. You may also like to learn more about eating ‘5 a day’ on the NHS Live Well site.

Regular exercise is really important for everyone in order to lower the risk of developing heart disease and angina. Exercise makes the heart stronger so it can pump more blood through the body. It also reduces the levels of bad cholesterol that cause fatty build-up in the arteries.

If you have been given an angina diagnosis, it is even more important to exercise in order to reduce any further damage to the heart, lower your cholesterol and lower your blood pressure.

You should look to undertake an activity which increases your heart rate such as walking, cycling, swimming or jogging.

If you are unsure about how to begin an angina exercise regime or if exercise is one of your angina triggers, speak to your GP who will be able to refer you to a physiotherapist. He or she will be able to develop a program of exercise specifically for you, taking into account your angina symptoms.

The British Heart Foundation website offers advice and guidance on staying active and even includes a simple guide to exercises for angina.

If you are a smoker who has been diagnosed with angina, one of the essential things you must do is to give up the cigarettes.

Smoking damages the lining of your arteries which leads to narrowing, therefore causing angina. Smoking also increases adrenaline and reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood – which all puts the heart under more pressure to work harder.

It is never too late to stop, and there is an abundance of help and support available to you. Speak to your GP or NHS Stop Smoking advisor who can help you.

The NHS also offers 10 online tips on how you can stop smoking which we encourage you to take a look at.

Many people who have received a diagnosis of angina, continue to work. Some people will choose to change jobs, retrain, or work fewer hours with less stress. Everyone is different and you will decide what is best for you. If you are unsure about whether or not you can continue working with angina, speak to your GP and cardiologist. You may also wish to discuss your role and tasks with your employer or occupational health adviser.

At Healthcare Pro, we offer a huge range of equipment that can help those who are older, or have a health condition, live more independently. Below you’ll find some of our most popular products which can help relieve some of the symptoms of angina and enable those living with the condition to do more things for themselves – whether at home or when out and about.

British Heart Foundation Online forum:

British Heart Foundation Local Heart Support Groups: Telephone to find your nearest one or go online

Tel: 0300 330 3311

Web: CHSS (only in Scotland) Heart Support Groups

British Heart Foundation – the nations heart charity and the largest independent funder of cardiovascular research

Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland (CHHS) – health charity to improve the quality of life for people in Scotland affected by chest, heart and stroke illness

Heart Research Institute UK – institute which conducts research to prevent death and suffering from cardiovascular disease

NHS Choices – helps to explain health conditions in more detail