An overview of unstable AnginaBlocking of the flow of blood to the heart is the cause of a heart attack. When the heart doesn’t receive oxygen that comes with the blood, it starts to die gradually. Getting quick treatment is crucial when it comes to minimizing the deadliness of a heart attack and this can go a long way towards bettering the survival chances of the patient. Some doctors use the term myocardial infarction to mean a heart attack or other terms like acute coronary syndrome or unstable angina which all refers to a heart attack.

Exactly what is angina?

Generally speaking, angina is a kind of chest discomfort or pain, which results when the heart doesn’t receive enough flow of blood. This can be a very dangerous condition and it is crucial that you get concerned with your symptoms, learn how to effectively control what’s typical for you and when to ask for help. The common types of angina are such as having a strange chest feeling, pressure or pain in the chest. Some people could also have the strange feeling in other parts like the neck, back, upper belly or jaw as well as in one arm or shoulder or in both of them.

The two main types of angina

Angina comes in two main terms with the first one being stable angina that is characterized by a typical pattern. There is a likelihood of one being able to predict when the attack will happen and you will notice this as your heart starts to work harder and requires more oxygen like when exercising. These symptoms tend to go away upon resting. The second type is unstable angina, which occurs unexpectedly and taking nitroglycerin or resting doesn’t help either. When you have unstable angina, you should be warned of a soon to happen heart attack and it is crucial that you seek treatment immediately. If you have any of these symptoms, it is important that you visit your doctor right away.

What can lead to a heart?

When blood doesn’t flow to your heart, a heart attack is bound to happen. Plaque which comprises of fatty acids is responsible for blocking the coronary arteries and this blocks the oxygen from getting into the heat. Coronary artery disease is the name given to refer to the process in which plaque builds up in coronary arteries. Plaque starts to form during childhood for most people and builds up gradually over a lifetime. Such plaque deposits can interfere with the flow of blood into the heart thus resulting in angina. Other things such as sudden strong emotion, intense exercises or using illegal drugs like cocaine can easily cause a heart attack. The symptoms of unstable angina are similar to that of a heart attack. They generally include a strange chest feeling, chest pain/ pressure, breath shortness, vomiting or nausea, sweating, sudden weakness and so on.