Pathophysiology of angina explained

The pathophysiology of angina is not as complex or hard to understand as it may sound. Angina is chest pain, and this can be caused by a number of different reasons, diseases, and conditions. The pathophysiology of angina starts with your heart muscle not receiving an adequate flow of blood for any reason. This causes a burning or crushing pain in your chest, and you may feel like you are suffocating and can not breathe in. In some cases you may feel like a band or strap is being tightened around your chest, and the pain or pressure may be enough to make you sit or fall down. This is commonly caused by exertion, such as aerobic exercise or strenuous activity. It is easy to confuse the pain of angina with a heart attack and if you think you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you need to immediately talk to your primary physician.

There are different reasons for the pathophysiology of angina. You may have a blockage in one of the coronary arteries, either the large arteries or one of the smaller ones, which are just as important but may not cause symptoms as severe. For some reason these coronary arteries become blocked, and this restricts the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart muscle. Just like all other tissues, your heart muscle needs an adequate supply of blood to pump and function properly. Without the proper flow of blood, your heart can sustain muscle damage, and you could end up having a heart attack or stroke as well as angina pain. In most cases, the pathophysiology of angina is caused by lifestyle factors, such as being overweight, smoking, and not getting enough exercise on a daily basis. As the arteries to and from your heart start to narrow you will experience some of the angina symptoms.

Your blood pressure can also play a role in the pathophysiology of angina. High blood pressure can contribute to this condition, and if this is the case then your doctor may put you on medications which will help lower your blood pressure and minimize the angina that you experience. A diet high in saturated fats will also cause angina, because these fats can clog up your arteries and prevent blood and oxygen from reaching your heart muscles. Changing your diet can help resolve this issue and prevent further angina attacks. Choose foods low in fats, and high in nutrients. Minimize the animal products you consume and this will help lower the cholesterol in your blood that can contribute to the pathophysiology of angina.

The pathophysiology of angina is easy to understand. Whether this condition is caused by poor lifestyle choices or a disease, the arteries leading to and from your heart start to narrow and do not supply adequate amounts of blood and oxygen. When you exert yourself, even with something as simple as walking up a hill, you may experience severe chest pains, and these can travel down your arms, through your shoulders, and into your neck and face. This is caused by your heart working harder, but not getting enough of the required oxygen to do the job properly. The result is the pain or crushing feeling that you get in your chest, and you may feel like breathing or speaking is impossible until the symptoms pass. Angina is a sign of a problem, and should be evaluated by your physician immediately.

 

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.