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Angina

Angina is pain, usually in the chest, caused by lack of oxygen in the heart muscle. The most common symptom is pain in the center of the chest under the breastbone (sternum). The pain may also spread to your throat, jaw, back, or arms (especially the left one). It is often brought on by exercise, emotional upset, heavy meals, or extremes of heat or cold.

Instructions for care

You should follow your doctor's advice about activity. Regular exercise may be good for you as long as it does not produce pain. Avoid activities that trigger attacks of angina. Walking is the best exercise. Do not begin any new type of exercise until you check with your doctor. It is not necessary to avoid sexual relations.
If you smoke, you should quit.
If you are overweight, you should lose weight. Eat a diet that is low in fat and low in salt.

Call your doctor if:

You have any problems related to the medication you are taking.

Return to the emergency room immediately if:

Your chest pain increases in severity or does not improve within 24 hours, you have an attack of chest pain that last longer than 10 to 15 minutes despite rest and treatment with the medicines your doctor has prescribed, or you wake from sleep with chest pain.
You feel dizzy or you faint, you breathe very rapidly at rest or you are gasping, or you develop sweating and appear pale.
You should not drive to the hospital if severe chest pain occurs, especially if the pain is crushing or pressure-like and spreads to your arms, back, neck or jaw, or if you also have sweating, nausea or difficulty breathing. Call an ambulance immediately.

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