Risk Factors of Angina

According to the American Heart Association, angina affects 9.8 million Americans. The chest pain caused by angina is often mistaken for indigestion.

Features

• Angina is chest pain that occurs when the heart muscle doesn't get enough blood. It is a common symptom of heart disease. The pain can manifest as a feeling of heaviness, squeezing, or tightness in the chest. According to the Mayo Clinic, some people with angina say the pain feels like someone is standing or sitting on their chest.

Risks

• Certain conditions or behaviors can increase your risk of developing angina. The condition is a symptom of heart disease, so heart disease risks also apply to angina. The risks include: high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, diabetes, and lack of exercise.

Considerations

• According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, age and family history also increase the risk of developing angina. Men are more likely to develop angina after the age of 45. Women aged 55 and up are at more risk. You're also more likely to develop the condition if anyone in your immediate family has had it.

Fact

• Not all chest pain is angina. Chest pain that lasts for less than 30 seconds is usually not angina. Pain that goes away after you drink water, rest for a few seconds, change position, or pass gas is no cause for alarm.

Angina or Heart Attack

• If you experience angina it doesn't mean you're having a heart attack. It means your heart isn't getting enough blood, and is a sign of an underlying heart condition. A heart attack occurs when your heart ceases to get any blood at all. The chest pain during a heart attack is much more severe.