Know Everything About Stable Angina

Cardiology | by Dr. Rakesh Sarkar | Published on 05/12/2022

Are you experiencing chest pain a lot lately? If yes, then you must get yourself checked as it can be a sign of angina. Usually, people don’t know about this condition and perceive it as normal chest pain.
Chest pain is called angina and it can happen to anyone at any point in time. This condition occurs if there is a restriction to blood flow while reaching the heart muscle. There are times when an individual can come across angina in a foreseeable pattern.
So, it is important to comprehend which type of angina an individual is experiencing for the right treatment. Usually, people suffering from chest pain don’t realise that they might have a condition called stable angina hence one must be mindful of what’s linked with this type of angina.
In this write-up, you will find a comprehensive discussion on stable angina. So, stick to the end to gain information.

Points to remember about Stable angina

• Stable angina is a pain or discomfort that usually remains the same. It occurs due to exercising essentially and generally goes away within five minutes.
• Stable angina involves going away from the symptoms after an individual takes the medication and avoiding resting too much.
• The trigger points of stable angina are the activities that involve working harder for the heart such as exertion both mentally, physically, and emotionally, extreme temperatures, and heavy meals.

Now, let’s start with the basics to gain information on stable angina.

What is stable angina?

Stable angina is also known as angina pectoris and in this condition, an individual experiences chest pain when the heart muscle requires additional oxygen. If it doesn’t get the required amount of oxygen, then it reflects heart disease.
Stable angina usually occurs when an individual is exercising too much. It is not permanent chest pain, however, if not treated then it can cause problems like acute coronary syndrome.

What are the symptoms of stable angina?

It is important to be mindful of the stable angina symptoms and they are:

• Chest pain is when an individual perceives it as indigestion or pressure.
• Pain radiating to the left shoulder.
• Breath shortness.
• Dizziness, exhaustion, and nausea.

What causes stable angina?

One of the main causes of stable angina in most cases is coronary artery disease primarily when an individual puts him/her through excessive exertion. When there is a blockage in the coronary artery due to a blood clot, then it causes a limitation in the amount of blood needed by the heart muscles. Here are some of the causes of stable angina:

• When there is a problem with heart rhythm.
• Heart valve issues.
• When an individual experiences heart failure.
• Anaemia and hyperthyroidism

How to diagnose stable angina?

When an individual experiences chest pain, a doctor usually orders getting some tests done to diagnose stable angina.
Stable angina is diagnosed through different tests: blood test, computed tomography scan- CT scan, electrocardiogram- EKTs, coronary angiography, stress test that involves regular tests, nuclear test, and echocardiogram test.

How to prevent stable angina?

Certain steps are there that you can follow to prevent stable angina. Once you are aware of triggers for stable angina, here are the steps you can follow to prevent it:

• You need to make sure to get into the habit of eating a healthy diet.
• Make sure to exercise daily but ensure to take a break in between as well.
• You must quit smoking.
• Keep health conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes in control.
• Manage your levels of stress.
• During hot and cold weather, try staying inside. 

What is the treatment for stable angina?

The treatment for stable angina treatment involves lifestyle, medication, and surgery.

• Lifestyle: It is recommended to an individual for making certain lifestyle changes to reduce stable angina episodes. You can make changes like eating healthy, exercising regularly, and quitting smoking. It will also help in preventing other life-threatening diseases like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. This condition causes stable angina and finally causes the problem of heart disease.
• Medication: A doctor might recommend medication for the treatment of stable angina. Usually, nitro-glycerine is recommended to reduce chest pain. Your cardiologist doctor can also suggest other medications for treating other health conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. A blood-thinning medication is also given for preventing blood clots.
• Surgery: There are times when your doctor might suggest you move forward with the minimally invasive procedure. It is also called angioplasty and helps in treating stable angina. The stent is fitted so that the passageway is open for the right blood flow. If the arteries are blocked, then they are removed through surgery as it helps in relieving the pain.

Final words

Chest pain can be an indication of stable angina that one must not ignore. It can transform into unstable angina and can cause a heart attack. It is crucial to continue taking your medications and visiting your medical practitioner. You must follow the recommendations made by your doctor. If you want to avert the risk of heart disease, then you must control stable angina beforehand. For more information, you can always get in touch with your cardiologist. 

FAQs

 

How long does stable angina last usually?

The usual time of stable angina is around 15 minutes but that is in rare cases. The longest lasting time of stable angina is five minutes. It occurs due to the reasons like heavy meals, extreme cold or hot weather, and heavy meals. It can be relieved by medications like nitroglycerin and rest.

Is stable angina difficult to predict?

Stable angina symptoms are predictable and don’t pose the risk of unknown triggers. Usually, an individual is aware of the triggers that can lead to stable angina and controlling the symptoms becomes easier.

When does stable angina become unstable?

If stable angina is not treated on time, then it can easily transform into unstable angina. For instance, when a person gets tired walking through even two blocks then it is known as stable angina. Although, when the chest discomfort or chest pattern changes with time it becomes unstable.