How does angina happen?
Angina is often brought on by activities that make the heart work harder, because the heart needs more oxygen than can be delivered through the narrowed arteries. Some of these activities include: • Strenuous exercise (especially if you ordinarily do not exercise). • Use of cocaine or amphetamines. • Exposure to cold temperatures. • Sudden, intense emotions such as anger or fear. • Smoking. • Eating a heavy meal. Many people have stable angina, which is predictable. It eases after they rest and take nitroglycerin, a medicine that opens blood vessels to improve blood flow. But if there is a change in the usual pattern of your angina, you may have unstable angina. In unstable angina, chest pain occurs at rest or with less and less exertion, may be more severe and last longer, or doesn’t respond to nitroglycerin. Because unstable angina can progress to a heart attack, it requires medical attention right away. For information about their differences, see stable versus unstable angina. For
