Angina is chest pain due to an inadequate blood supply to the heart. It is usually caused by coronary artery disease, in which the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart are narrowed by fatty deposits.
Other causes include coronary artery spasm, in which the blood vessels narrow suddenly for a short period of time, heart valve problems, and heart rhythm disorders. Severe anemia, which reduces the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity, may also cause angina.
The pain of angina usually starts in the center of the chest but may spread to the neck, back, and arms, or between the shoulder blades. Typically, the pain is brought on by exertion and eases with rest. If the pain continues after rest, it may be due to a heart attack (opposite).
Angina can often be controlled with medication to open up blood vessels, but if attacks become more severe or frequent, angioplasty to widen or surgery to bypass narrowed arteries may be recommended