ANGINA - What is it?

Angina occurs when the heart does not get enough blood and oxygen.
Symptoms include sweating, shortness of breath, nausea, palpitations and a light headed, giddy feeling. The pain of angina is like a crushing/squeezing pain which starts below the breastbone and gradually spreads to the shoulder and arm. An angina attack can last for as long as 15 minutes.  (If an angina attack lasts longer than 15 minutes, this could be a heart attack and an ambulance should be called for immediately.)

What causes Angina / pains in the chest?

The heart needs supplies of blood and oxygen to do its job of pumping blood throughout the circulatory system of the body.  The blood is supplied to the heart via arteries, but when these arteries become blocked, or clogged up with plaque, atherosclerosis will result.  The arteries may be wide enough to provide a blood flow during rest periods, but when the body is involved in physical exertion – running for a bus, climbing stairs, gardening – an angina attack is triggered.

What to do about angina pains:

Although conventional medication for angina will help to relieve the chronic pain of this condition, it does not solve the physiological malfunctions behind it. The antioxidant effect of vitamins C and E can help prevent cell damage: some sufferers of heart disease have low levels of vitamin E as well as the mineral magnesium, which may help stop spasms of the coronary arteries.  Arginine is an amino acid which benefits the heart by forming nitric oxide, which relaxes artery walls. Another amino acid-like substance Carnitine, allows heart muscle cells to use energy more efficiently.  The nutritional supplement coenztyme Q10 enhances the heart muscle, reducing its workload, and the herb hawthorn improves blood flow to the heart.

• Eat a low-fat, high-fibre diet
• Stop smoking
• Learn to relax – t'ai chi and yoga may reduce angina attacks.
• Joining a angina / healthy heart support group is good therapy where you can discuss your condition, and the management of it, with other sufferers.
  
  If you can determine the cause of your condition, you can begin to add positive aspects to your life in order to begin reversing the disease.