Each of these factors causes damage to the arterial lining and/or causes plaques to develop more rapidly.
What are “hereditary factors”?
Though the chance of developing CAD and angina increases for everyone with increasing age, it seems that an increased chance of developing it earlier in life tends to “run in families.” If someone in an individual’s immediate family – a parent, brother, or sister – has had a heart attack or angina before age 50, then that individual has an increased risk of developing CAD at an earlier age. This hereditary effect is in addition to having high blood pressure, diabetes, or a high cholesterol level running in one’s family.
Is chest pain the only symptom of angina?
Not entirely. While angina means literally “pain,” the term is used to describe any of the symptoms that can result from decreased blood flow to the heart. For many people this includes some type of chest discomfort, either as the main symptom or one of a combination of symptoms. Some describe pressure or tightness in the chest rather than pain, per se. People may also experience any of a variety of symptoms, including:
- Sensation of indigestion or discomfort in the abdomen
- Dizziness
- Breathing difficulty
- Excessive sweatiness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pain, pressure, or numbness in the neck, jaw, upper or mid back, or arms.
- Symptoms unrelated to chest discomfort are referred to by doctors as “anginal equivalents.”
Can someone ever be sure that chest pain is not angina?
This is a difficult question, but chest pain that occurs once or twice and is brief, lasting only a few seconds, is unlikely to be related to the heart or any other significant problem. However, people with a wide variety of chest sensations – for example, burning, tingling, “electrical feeling,” sharp pain, dull pain, pain worse when moving the arms or neck or worse when swallowing or breathing – as well as those with the anginal equivalents described above, could be having angina, a heart attack, or another life-threatening problem. In short, the chest contains several vital organs and any recurring or prolonged abnormal feeling is a cause for concern. Seeing a doctor promptly is the best course of action. In many cases, this may mean calling an ambulance for transportation to the emergency department of the nearest hospital.
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