Early Symptoms Of Angina Pectoris

Angina pectoris is a chest pain which originated from the heart. This condition occurs when the heart did not receive enough oxygenated blood because the blood vessels may be partially blocked due to blood clots and hardened arteries.


This condition is usually due to cholesterol and fatty build-ups in the blood vessels of the coronary arteries. If the pain is predictable and can be triggered by different levels of exertion, it is considered as stable angina. However, if it becomes unpredictable and occurs even at rest, this is considered as unstable angina.

Unstable angina is life threatening condition and considered as a medical emergency. There is a 3rd type of angina called variant angina. It is caused by spasms in the blood vessels. These 2 types can occur in different circumstances and they also share common signs and symptoms. Here is a list of the primary symptoms of angina pectoris:

Symptoms Of Angina Pectoris

1. A feeling of pressure and pain around the chest.

This is the most common symptom of angina pectoris. Only one or both of them can be felt in the chest area, and can radiate into the left shoulders, left arm and jaw. The pain can be described as a sensation of pressure or something heavy or a squeezing feeling in the chest. Chest pains and pressure are more likely to be felt by men than women.

2. Shortness of breath or “dyspnea”

Shortness of breath is medically termed as “dyspnea”. In stable angina, shortness of breath can be triggered during activity and will subside when the person is at rest or with the use of drugs like a nitroglycerin (often prescribed to patients experiencing angina pectoris).

However, in unstable angina, shortness of breath can happen even the person is at minimal activity or at rest. This symptom can occur more likely to diabetics and elderly people.

3. Lightheadedness, anxiety and gastrointestinal problems.

These atypical symptoms occur more likely in women than in men. One significant symptom is a panic feeling or a sense of an impending doom. Gastrointestinal issues like vomiting and nausea are also considered as atypical symptoms of angina pectoris. Other symptoms are lightheadedness, dizziness and fainting.
by: Ethel Henry