Chest Pain
Experience chest discomfort? It could be angina, stemming from reduced blood flow to your heart, a condition known as coronary artery disease. Angina symptoms vary but often manifest during physical activity, described as a heavy or tight feeling in the chest, typically centered or to the left, sometimes extending to the left arm, neck, or jaw. Chest pain can have various origins, including lung, chest wall, or stomach issues, and may not necessarily indicate a heart problem.
Prompt evaluation by a specialist is crucial for chest pain, especially if angina is suspected, particularly if you have risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, or a family history of coronary artery disease.
Investigating chest pain
Following a specialized cardiac assessment for suspected angina, further investigations are typically required, including:
- 12-lead Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Exercise tolerance test (ETT)
- Non-invasive tests like CT coronary angiogram (CTCA), dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE), or nuclear myocardial perfusion scan (MPS)
- Invasive procedures such as coronary angiography
Managing angina
Upon confirmation of angina and coronary artery disease, treatment often begins with medications like Aspirin, statins, emergency GTN spray, and specific anti-anginal drugs to alleviate symptoms. Addressing known risk factors like smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol is vital, alongside lifestyle modifications involving diet and aerobic exercise.
For some angina patients, further invasive procedures like coronary angioplasty with stent insertion or cardiac bypass surgery may be necessary.
