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Last Updated on February 9, 2024 by Shabnam Sengupta
Angina is a painful sensation in the chest that typically lasts for only a few minutes. It is not a health condition in itself but rather a symptom of an underlying heart condition. Although angina may not be immediately life-threatening, it is a warning sign that should not be ignored. Specifically, angina may be an indicator of undiagnosed narrowing of the blood vessels, which can increase the risk of serious heart problems. The focus of this article will be on the various types of the condition, as well as the potential consequences of leaving the angina untreated.
What are the types of angina?
The most common types of angina are chronic stable angina and unstable angina. In chronic stable angina, the heart pumps way harder to meet the oxygen demand. An example of this scenario can be a person suffering from angina pain while exercising. In this case, the pain can go away when the person rests. The pattern of pain remains stable.
In unstable angina, there is no specific pattern that angina pain follows. Unstable angina is dangerous and a warning sign of a heart attack. Besides this, Prinzmetal’s angina is a rare type of angina that can be a symptom of disease in a small number of coronary artery blood vessels.
What can happen if angina is not treated on time?
Angina pain must not be ignored. The pain occurs due to narrowing blood vessels. So, if the angina pain is left untreated, the condition can lead to heart attack, irregular heart rhythm, or heart failure in people. Angina creates a warning sign for coronary heart disease by developing a feeling of pressure or squeezing in the chest. Such symptoms often occur when there is some kind of disruption in the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart. The weak blood flow due to blockages in the arteries causes chest pain.
An attack of angina is an emergency, which people must not ignore and should seek immediate medical treatment. People can opt for a healthy lifestyle and adequate rest with medical treatment to reduce the risk of another episode of angina.
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