What is Angina Pectoris?

Angina, which is also known as angina pectoris, is chest discomfort or pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscles.

Angina is not a disease iitself but a probable symptom of coronary artery disease. It is not a life-threatening condition when experienced on its own.

However, if a person is experiencing angina, it is a strong indicator that they have a type of heart disease. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any chest pain or discomfort.

Causes of Angina Pectoris.

Angina occurs when the flow of blood through the coronary arteries to the heart muscle is insufficient to meet the heart’s oxygen demands, such as during physical activity.

Coronary heart disease is the most common cause of reduced blood flow to the heart in people with angina. Coronary heart disease is the build-up of fatty deposits on the inside of the coronary arteries causing them to become narrow and restricting the amount of blood flowing to the heart muscle.

There are two main types of angina: 

1.) Stable angina: Pain lasting 5-15 minutes that is relieved by rest or angina medication. It usually has a trigger, such as physical exercise or exertion, anxiety or emotional stress, cold temperatures, or heavy meals.

2.) Unstable angina: Pain lasting longer than 15 minutes that may not be fully relieved by rest or angina medication. It may indicate that you are having a heart attack. Unstable angina often occurs without a specific trigger.

Angina differs from a heart attack because the reduction in blood flow to the heart muscle is only temporary and does not result in damage to the heart muscle. During a heart attack, the interrupted blood flow can result in the heart muscle being damaged or destroyed.

People with angina, however, are at higher risk of having a heart attack. If you have been diagnosed with angina and you experience unstable angina or angina pain that is unusual, e.g. pain or discomfort in the region of the heart that occurs when you are resting or that wakes you up from sleep, you might be having a heart attack. You should seek medical attention immediately.

Signs and symptoms

Angina symptoms are not always present because during times of low oxygen demand, e.g. when at rest, the heart muscle can function on the reduced amount of blood flow without triggering symptoms. However, when the demand for oxygen is increased, e.g. when not at rest, the heart muscle cannot cope, and angina symptoms are triggered.

Signs and symptoms of angina include:

• Chest pain or discomfort, often described as squeezing pressure, fullness, tightness, or a heavy weight in the centre of the chest.

• Pain or discomfort in the arms, neck, jaw, shoulder or back.

• Pain similar to indigestion or heartburn.

• Shortness of breath and tiredness.

• Nausea, sweating, and dizziness. 

The severity, duration, and type of angina can vary. It is important to recognise new or different symptoms since they may signal unstable angina, or a heart attack.

In some cases women with angina may not experience classic chest pressure or discomfort symptoms, and this can lead to delays in seeking treatment. Instead they may experience a stabbing pain and/or some of the symptoms listed above. 

Diagnosis

Angina is diagnosed by your doctor conducting a physical examination and asking about your symptoms and any risk factors, including whether there is a family history of heart disease.

Tests are available to help confirm a diagnosis of angina. These include:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG): Monitors patterns of the electrical signals in the heart to reveal whether the blood flow through the heart has been slowed or interrupted

• Exercise stress test: Involves conducting an ECG during exercise since it is easier to diagnose angina when the heart has to work harder.

• Echocardiogram: Uses sound waves to produce moving images of the heart, which allows identification of angina-related problems.

• Chest x-ray: Looks for other conditions that might be causing angina symptoms and to see if the heart is enlarged.

• Coronary angiography: Uses x-ray imaging to obtain a detailed picture of the inside of the coronary arteries.

• Computerised tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): High-tech machines that collect multiple detailed images of the heart to show if the heart is enlarged or the coronary arteries are narrowed.

Self-management

Because angina can be triggered by physical exertion, anxiety or emotional stress, cold weather, or eating a heavy meal, the following behavioural changes may help to alleviate angina symptoms:

• Rest as soon as you feel symptoms are coming on.

• Take regular breaks.

• Reduce and manage stress.

• Keep warm.

• Avoid eating large meals. 

Risk factors

The following risk factors increase your risk of coronary artery disease and angina:

• Tobacco use; Chewing tobacco, smoking and long-term exposure to secondhand smoke damage the interior walls of arteries (including arteries to your heart), allowing deposits of cholesterol to collect and block blood flow.

• Diabetes; Over time, high blood glucose from diabetes can damage your blood vessels and the nerves that control your heart and blood vessels. The longer you have diabetes, the higher the chances that you will develop heart disease.

People with diabetes tend to develop heart disease at a younger age than people without diabetes. In adults with diabetes, the most common causes of death are heart disease and stroke. Adults with diabetes are nearly twice as likely to die from heart disease or stroke as people without diabetes.

• High blood pressure; Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. Over time, high blood pressure damages arteries.

• High blood cholesterol/triglyceride levels; Cholesterol is a major part of the deposits that can narrow arteries throughout your body, including those that supply your heart. A high level of the wrong kind of cholesterol, known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol), increases your risk of angina and heart attacks. A high level of triglycerides, a type of blood fat related to your diet, also is undesirable.

• History of heart disease; If you have coronary artery disease or if you’ve had a heart attack, you’re at a greater risk of developing angina.

• Older age; Men older than 45 and women older than 55 have a greater risk than do younger adults.

• Lack of exercise; An inactive lifestyle contributes to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and obesity. However, it is important to talk with your doctor before starting an exercise program.

• Obesity; Obesity raises the risk of angina and heart disease because it’s associated with high blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and diabetes. Also, your heart has to work harder to supply blood to the excess tissue.

• Stress; Stress can increase your risk of angina and heart attacks. Too much stress, as well as anger, can also raise your blood pressure. Surges of hormones produced during stress can narrow your arteries and worsen angina.

Hence, the following lifestyle changes can help to minimise angina symptoms and improve the heart’s health:

• Quit smoking and avoid second-hand smoke.
• Control your blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
• Exercise moderately and regularly, especially heart disease-appropriate exercise (always consult a health professional before commencing a new exercise regime).
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Follow a heart disease-appropriate diet.
• Avoid drinking alcohol or do so in moderation.

Diet Tips for Angina

Good nutrition is important for your heart health. Healthy eating habits will help you control some of your risk factors for angina.

• Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

• Choose lean proteins, such as skinless chicken, fish, and beans.

• Eat non-fat or low-fat dairy products, such as skim milk and low-fat yogurt.

• Avoid foods that contain high levels of sodium (salt).

• Read food labels; Avoid foods that contain saturated fat and partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated fats. These are unhealthy fats that are often found in fried foods, processed foods, and baked goods.

• Eat fewer foods that contain cheese, cream, or eggs.

Homoeopathic Treatment of Angina

Diets and homeopathic medicines are found to be very effective for the treatment of angina pectoris. The diet aspects have been outlined above. How do we now treat someone suffering from angina homeopathically?

Before prescribing a remedy in homeopathy, homeopaths take into account your constitutional type. In homeopathic terms, a person’s constitution is his or her physical, emotional, and intellectual makeup. An experienced homeopath would assess all of these factors when determining the most appropriate remedy for you as an individual. So the selection of homeopathic medication is individualized based on symptoms resemblance and general constitutional properties of the patient.

In relation to our topic, the aim of homeopathy is not only to treat angina pectoris, but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility.

There are many homeopathic remedies which cover the symptoms of angina pectoris and can be selected on the basis of cause, location, sensation, modalities and extension of the pain.

Here are few of the homeopathic medicines used in treating angina pectoris;

• Latrodectus mac; This is indicated where there is severe pain in the chest muscles, left shoulder, back and neck. The pain radiates from the chest to left arm and fingers. There is intense restlessness, depression and pain after the attack is over. Sometimes the pain may be extend to abdomen. The patient have great anxiety, thinks he will suffocate, fear that he would lose breath and die.

• Cactus grandiflorus is one of the top remedies for the treatment of angina pectoris. There is pain as if the heart were gripped with an iron band. There is pain in the left arm. The pulse is irregular. Another symptom is great palpitations, worse lying on left side.

• Digitalis is best for angina pectoris with a feeling as if heart would cease working, if he moves, must hold the breath and keep still. There is sudden sensation as if heart stood still. The least movement causes violent palpitations.

Spigelia is effective for angina, especially indicated in smokers and drunkards. There is pressure, oppression, darting , shooting and stabbing pains in the chest and down the left arm. There is violent sticking or compressive pains, radiating to throat, arms, scapula, worse least motion or bending double. Another marked symptom is violent palpitations which is audible.

• Naja tripudians; This remedy is indicated where there is a feeling of weight on heart, and stitching pain in region of heart. Angina pain extends to nape of neck, left shoulder and arm with anxiety and fear of death. There is pain in forehead.

• Hydrocyanic acid is effective for angina pectoris with severe pain. There is palpitation, anxiety and small pulse. Well indicated for angina pectoris with epilepsy.

• Amylenum nitrosum is best for Angina with great anxiety. There is aching pain and constriction around the heart. Another symptoms is violent beating of the heart and carotids.

• Aconitum napellus is effective for sudden attack of Angina with acute pain in the region of the heart, left arm and left shoulder. Pain worse when sitting erect. It should be given immediately at the onset of the feeling of pain when there is a previous history of the disease in the patient. There is great fear, anxiety and restlessness. There is palpitation with anxiety. The pulse is full, hard, tense and bounding. Sometimes cough may present along with heart pains.

• Terminalia arjuna is excellent for angina pectoris with weakness and pain in heart. There is palpitation with pain, extend to left shoulder and left hand, worse from walking, after eating. Another symptoms are vertigo and darkness before the eyes.

• Ammonium carb is best for angina pectoris where circulation becomes sluggish. There is great weakness of heart with drowsiness. Danger of heart failure due to a prolonged illness.

• Argentum nitricum is prescribed when heart attack occurs after taking meals. Angina pain is worse at night. There is palpitation with nausea, worse lying on right side.

• Arsenic alb is prescribed for Angina with great anxiety, restlessness, fear of death, difficult breathing, fainting spells. There is thirst for small quantities of water at short intervals. Common in smokers and tobacco chewers.

• Bryonia alb is prescribed where stitching pain occurs in heart region and the pain persists and is worse by motion.

• Cimcifuga is best for Angina where there is pain in the heart region and left arm. Heart action ceases suddenly and there is immediate suffocation.

• Glonoinum is prescribed where violent beating of the heart occurs as if it will burst open. There is strenuous breathing. Pain radiates in all directions, down the left arm with weakness.

• Strophanthus is best for angina due to weakness of heart.

• Crataegus is a an effective heart tonic which strengthen the heart.

For individualized homeopathic remedy selection and treatment of angina pectoris, the patient should consult a qualified homeopath.

For your homeopathic medicines and treatment for angina pectoris, contact the homeopath Oluwafunmise on 08028366901 or 08183554665.