Stable angina

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Heart, front view

Stable angina

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Stable angina

Alternative Names:

Angina - stable; Angina - chronic; Angina pectoris

Symptoms:

Stable angina:

Occurs after activity, stress, or exertion
Lasts 1 to 15 minutes
Is usually relieved with rest or nitroglycerin

The most common symptom is a feeling of tightness, heavy pressure, or squeezing or crushing chest pain that:

Occurs under the breastbone or slightly to the left
Is not clearly focused in one spot
May spread to shoulder, arm, jaw, neck, back, or other areas
May feel like gas or indigestion

You should seek medical attention if you have new, unexplained chest pain or pressure. If you have had angina before, call your doctor.

Immediately go to the hospital if chest pain or heaviness lasts longer than 15 minutes or is not relieved with medication prescribed by your doctor. The pain may represent unstable angina or a heart attack.

Signs and tests:

The following tests may be done to diagnose or rule out angina:

Blood pressure measurement
Exercise tolerance test (stress test or treadmill test) -- may show ECG changes
Stress echocardiogram -- may reveal problems with the heart's ability to pump blood
Coronary angiography

References:

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves New Treatment for Chest Pain. Rockville, MD: National Press Office; January 31, 2006. Press Release P06-15.

Zipes DP, Libby P, Bonow RO, Braunwald E, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, 7th ed. St. Louis, Mo; WB Saunders; 2005: 1281-1308.

Mehta SB. Management of coronary heart disease: stable angina, acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction. Prim Care. 2005; 32(4): 1057-81.

Review Date: 2/13/2006
Reviewed By: Frederic F. Little, M.D., Department of Allergy and Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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