What are the common symptoms and complications of angina pectoris ?
The symptoms of angina pectoris include: • A constricting pain around the chest. In stable angina this occurs on exertion and is relieved by rest • Feeling pressure in the chest • Extreme anxiety • Pain radiating from the chest to the throat, arms, neck, and back • Dizziness or nausea, and sometimes vomiting • Sweating • Difficulty in breathing Angina can be confused with a heart attack. However, unlike a heart attack, the pain from angina usually goes away in 15 minutes or less with rest. If youve never had this type of pain before, dont try to diagnose yourself: call your doctor at once. If the pain continues or gets worse, call an ambulance. How do doctors recognise angina pectoris? If you have this sort of pain, after an examination your doctor may refer you to a hospital for an exercise ECG (electrocardiogram). This measures the electrical activity of the heart while at rest and then when the heart is under strain during exercise. From the results the doctors will be able to tell
