Angina

Angina

     Angina is the inability of coronary arteries to supply the oxygenated blood required by the heart. This lack of adjustment between needs and contributions of oxygenated blood may result from two different mechanisms: primary coronary insufficiency (of unknown cause) translates into a decrease in the blood flow in coronary arteries. A secondary coronary insufficiency (whose cause is known) corresponds to an increase in the need for oxygen during an exercise and an inability to bring this extra oxygen.

Angina frequency

     In industrialized countries, angina is very widespread. In France - for example - it is the first cause of death. A large number of deaths suddenly appear in middle-aged men and women, otherwise in good health, but most of them refer to the subjects older than 65 years.

Angina causes

     The most common origin of angina is insufficient development of atherosclerosis. In this case, coronary arteries are blocked by plaques consisting of a fatty deposit rich in cholesterol the buildup. A clot (blood clot) formed in contact with rough surfaces of these plaques may continue to worsen the narrowing coronary to coronary occlusion.

     Angina causes are numerous and linked. The main risk factors for atherosclerosis are the genetic predisposition diseases as diabetes; hypertension or a way of life characterized by smoking, lack of physical exercise, overweight, finally a rich diet in dairy products and animal fat, which causes an excessive increase of cholesterol in blood.

     The influence of personality, behavior and stress is still controversial. Some doctors believe that myocardial infarction is more common among subjects with a personality "type A" (always in a hurry, always look at their watch, and don't bear the delays and interrupt others in the middle of sentences), active and enterprising. We know, moreover, that angina occurs more frequently in depressed subjects after the death of a close relative or after a job loss, for example.

     Other mechanisms reduce oxygen intake to heart: a touch of small vessels crown as in diabetes, a heart wall thickening, a decrease of oxygen content in blood or an inability of the heart muscle to extract oxygen, for example. Angina is the result of the suffering blood vessels from the heart. Angina is the most severe heart disease and one of the most common cardiovascular diseases. Is a poor irrigation of a portion of the myocardium with blood or the amount of blood is reduced quantitatively or not go at all in the area. More than 25% of cardiovascular deaths are due to angina.

Angina causes

     Angina (or heart attack) occurs when the heart muscle is part completely free of blood; heart muscle cells die because of that. Heart attack can occur when plaque buildup inside your heart breaks, forming a clot that blocks the blood flow through the artery. This plaque is composed of cholesterol, calcium, leukocytes and other components, being surrounded by a fibrous capsule. If pressure and blood flow increases suddenly, the fibrous capsule may crack or break. As a result of this action, the body receives signals to recover the inner lining of the affected artery (in the way it heals a surface cut) and form a clot to seal the area. Thus, stroke may be caused by a blood clot that forms in the artery, limiting the blood flow to the heart muscle.

Symptoms and manifestations of angina

     Symptoms of angina are multiple, the more relevant being the chest pain. Pain caused by a heart attack usually lasts more than 10 minutes and is often accompanied by other symptoms, including:

• Dizziness
• Shorter and more frequent breaths
• Sweating
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Nausea or vomiting

     Chest discomfort or the presence of an overwhelming pain (like a weight on the chest), this pain does not disappear, but spreads from the chest to the shoulders, one or both arms, neck and jaw. Identification of the initial phases of a heart attack and emergency care are very important, angina treatment is necessary to prevent death.

     Drugs can sometimes be taken to reduce heart muscle damage caused by a heart attack. Diet of a patient suffering from angina should exclude saturated fats. Strictly vegetarian diet, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids can lead to regression of coronary atherosclerosis lesions.

Lifestyle after angina

     Some people seem restless after discharge from the hospital, and the time spent in hospital may seem too short. This anxiety may be due to lack of supervision by specialized staff. Investigations carried out before leaving the hospital were those who indicated that the doctor is sure that the patient can continue a normal life.

     To reduce your risk of a new angina the doctor may recommend:

• Smoking cessation, may be the most important step in reducing the risk, there is evidence that people with coronary disease who do not smoke, reduces the risk of recurrent heart attack or death
• Daily administration of aspirin or other anti aggregatory medicine if aspirin is contraindicated
• Lowering the serum cholesterol levels with drugs special for this issue
• Control the blood pressure with prescription drugs, nutrients from the diet can influence blood pressure
• Diet that includes fish in larger quantity, the fish diets may be useful in weight loss, blood pressure and decrease cholesterol
• Reducing stress: there is evidence that reducing stress can influence the rate of angina or of the deaths caused by stroke in people with coronary heart disease
• Participation in cardiac rehabilitation programs, these programs within the patient is taught to change their habits which increase the risk of heart attack, his resolve stressful situations or strong emotions