{Angina} is a pain in the chest. As well as being felt in the chest it can spread to the arm, neck or jaw (see '1st Aid' section).
#angina cause
/The cause of angina
The {heart} consists mainly of {muscle}. The muscle pumps {blood} around the rest of the body. The blood carries {oxygen} to provide energy for the body. Like all muscles, the heart needs a good blood supply to provide energy. The heart gives this by pumping blood to itself through the {coronary arteries}. When muscles are starved of oxygen they become painful. The same is true of the heart.
If the heart doesn't get enough {oxygen} it becomes painful. This may be {angina}. It often occurs because of narrowing of the {coronary arteries}, reducing the supply of blood (see 'Looking After Your Heart - Heart Disease' section).
/The cause of an attack of angina
When relaxed & resting, the heart does little work. With exercise, the {heart} needs to pump harder as it needs more energy from {oxygen} in the blood. If the {arteries} are narrowed, the heart may not get enough blood & {angina} will result. This is why angina occurs during exercise (e.g. digging the garden, walking up a steep hill, carrying heavy shopping, housework, climbing stairs).
It can also be brought on by emotions, such as excitement, anger or fear. Sometimes, attacks have no obvious cause. {Angina} will usually be relieved by resting for a few minutes. Various tablets also ease pain. Occasionally, with severe angina, drug treatments alone are not successful & surgery may be needed.
