Angina is chest pain or pressure that happens when the heart muscle is not getting enough oxygen-rich blood. It is often a sign of coronary artery disease and can feel like squeezing, tightness, burning, or heaviness in the chest.

Quick Scoop

  • It is not a disease by itself; it is a symptom.
  • The pain can spread to the arms, shoulders, neck, jaw, or back.
  • Some types come on with exertion and improve with rest, while unstable angina can happen unexpectedly and is a medical emergency.
  • If chest pain is new, severe, or different from usual, it should be checked promptly.

Simple meaning

Think of angina as the heart signaling that it is under-supplied for the amount of work it is doing. A common cause is narrowed or blocked coronary arteries.

When to worry

Seek urgent help if chest pain is intense, lasts longer than usual, happens at rest, or comes with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or faintness. Unstable angina can be serious and needs emergency care.

TL;DR

Angina means chest discomfort caused by reduced blood flow to the heart, and it can be a warning sign of heart disease.