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Angina
WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
Angina pectoris is chest pain that occurs when your heart
does not get enough oxygen. The pain is usually caused by a
spasm or blockage of the arteries in the heart. There
are different kinds of angina, including stable and unstable
angina. If they are not treated, you could have a heart
attack.
Stable
Angina
This is the most common form. The chest pain may feel
crushing, tight, or heavy. It may spread to the neck, jaw,
shoulders, back, or left arm. The pain may also feel like
indigestion (burning), occurring under the breastbone.
The pain commonly starts below the breastbone and on the left
side of the body. It may spread down into your arm or up into
your jaw or shoulder blade. It often starts slowly, lasting
only a few minutes. It may be caused by cold or hot air or cold
wind. Chest pain may also occur after you get
upset.
Unstable
Angina
This is pain that comes back often or hurts more every
time it returns. It may start while you are resting or
exercising, and may continue even after
resting.
Care
If you have ""stable angina,''
you can be treated with medicine that opens up the arteries to
the heart and lowers the amount of oxygen it needs. Your
medicines should help lessen your pain and how often you have
it. If you still have pain after taking your medicine,
call your doctor. It is important that your treatment helps you
lead a normal life.
If you have ""unstable angina,'' you will be put in the
hospital. During your stay, your heartbeat will be monitored
and you will be given pain medicine. You also may need a
stress test (to watch your heart during exercise) or a cardiac
catheterization (a look at the arteries in your heart).
Depending on the results of the tests, your doctor may
recommend an angioplasty (opening up a blocked artery in your
heart) or surgery on your heart if the arteries are severely
blocked.
Risks
Without treatment, your angina may get worse, and you
could have a heart attack.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
-
Always take your medicine as directed. If you feel it
is not helping, call your doctor. Do not quit taking
it.
-
You may be directed to take aspirin regularly.
Aspirin helps thin the blood so blood clots don't form. Do
not take acetaminophen or ibuprofen
instead.
-
Your doctor also may prescribe nitroglycerin
(ny-tro-GLIS-er-in). It may give you a headache or make you
feel a little dizzy. Take it while sitting or lying
down.
-
A diet low in fat, salt, and cholesterol is very
important. It keeps your heart healthy and strong. Ask your
doctor what you should and should not
eat.
-
It may take time getting used to a new diet. Special
cook books may help you and the cook in your family find
new recipes.
-
Quit smoking. It harms the heart and lungs. If you
are having trouble quitting, call your doctor to talk about
other ways to quit.
-
Exercise daily. It helps make the heart stronger,
lowers blood pressure, and keeps you healthy. If your
exercise plan is too hard or easy, talk to your
doctor.
-
Weighing too much can make the heart work harder.
Talk to your doctor about a plan to lose
weight.
-
Since it is hard to avoid stress, learn to control
it. Ways to relax are: deep breathing, relaxing the
muscles, imagery (dreaming), and talking to someone about
things that upset you.
-
If you have other illnesses like diabetes or high
blood pressure, you need to control them. Take medicines as
directed. Because of these illnesses, you have a higher
chance of getting a heart
attack.
-
For more information about the heart, call the
American Heart Association at 1-800-AHA-USA1
(1-800-242-8721) or call your local
Red Cross.
Call Your Doctor If...
-
You have any questions or concerns about your illness
or medicine.
-
Your chest pain:
-
Is more painful each time you have it or occurs
more often.
-
Lasts longer than 10 to 15 minutes even after you
rest.
-
Does not go away after taking your nitroglycerin or
other medicine as directed.
-
Wakes you from your
sleep.
-
Occurs during exercise and doesn't go away with
rest.
-
Your medicine is making you light-headed or dizzy,
sweaty, or nauseated.
Seek Care Immediately
If...
-
You have chest pain that spreads to your arms, jaw,
or back, and you are sweating, sick to your stomach
(nauseated), and have trouble breathing. These are signs of
a heart attack.
THIS IS AN EMERGENCY. Call
911 or
0 (operator) to get to the nearest hospital or
clinic.
Do not drive yourself!
-
You have any of the problems listed under ""Call If''
and you live in an area that does not have an ambulance or
is far away from a hospital.
-
You feel dizzy or you
faint.
IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE
HOSPITAL...
What to Expect While You're
There
You may encounter the following
procedures and equipment during your stay.
-
Taking Vital Signs: These include your temperature,
blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeats), and
respirations (counting your breaths). A stethoscope is used
to listen to your heart and lungs. Your blood pressure is
taken by wrapping a cuff around your
arm.
-
Pulse Oximeter: While you are getting oxygen, you
may be hooked up to a pulse oximeter (ox-IM-ih-ter). It is
placed on your ear, finger, or toe and is connected to a
machine. It measures the oxygen in your
blood.
-
ECG: Also called a heart monitor, an
electrocardiograph (e-LEK-tro-CAR-dee-o-graf), or EKG. The
patches on your chest are hooked up to a TV-type screen or
a small portable box (telemetry unit). The TV-type screen
shows a tracing of each heartbeat. Your heart will be
watched for signs of injury or
damage.
-
12 Lead ECG: This test makes tracings from different
parts of your heart. It can help your doctor gage the
seriousness of the problem.
-
Oxygen: Your body may need extra oxygen at this
time. It is given either by a mask or nasal prongs. Tell
your care giver if the oxygen is drying out your nose or if
the nasal prongs bother you.
-
IV: A tube placed in your vein for giving medicine
or liquids. It will be capped or have tubing connected to
it.
-
Blood: Usually taken from a vein in your hand or
from the bend in your elbow. Tests will be done on the
blood.
-
Blood Gases: Blood is taken from an artery in your
wrist, elbow, or groin. It is tested for the amount of
oxygen in your blood.
-
Chest X-ray: This is a picture of your lungs and
heart. The care givers use it to see how your heart and
lungs are handling the illness.
-
Medicine:
-
Nitroglycerin: Lessens the amount of oxygen your
heart needs. Also opens the arteries to your heart so it
gets more oxygen. As a result, the pain usually lessens
or goes away. But, the ""nitro'' may also give you a
headache or make you dizzy.
-
It may be taken by placing it under your tongue or
attaching a medicine-filled patch to your chest, arm, or
back.
-
Heart Medicines: May also be given depending on
what is causing your angina.
-
Other Tests: May be needed to find out what is causing
your chest pain.
-
Stress Test: Used to watch your heart during
exercise.
-
ECHO: Also called an echocardiogram
(ek-oh-CAR-dee-o-gram). This uses sound waves to view
your heart while it is beating. It can help care givers
decide what is causing your heart
failure.
-
Cardiac Catheterization (cath-uh-ter-i-ZAY-shun):
A test used to study the arteries sending blood to your
heart.
-
Angioplasty: May be needed to open up a blocked
artery to your heart.
-
Surgery: May be needed if the arteries to your heart
are severely blocked.
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