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- What is angina?
- Symptoms of angina
- Causes of angina
- Prevention of angina
- Risk factors for angina
- Complications of angina
- When to see a doctor about angina
- Diagnosis of angina
- Conventional treatment of angina
- Alternative/complementary treatment of angina
- Living with angina
- Caring for someone with angina
Initial diagnosis of angina is through the following tests:
- Medical history of symptoms - the doctor will ask a series of questions about the severity and duration of symptoms as well as the onset (start) of symptoms, whether any activity makes symptoms worse and whether or not you smoke cigarettes
- Physical examination - the doctor will do an initial and simple examination of your heart with a stethoscope, to hear if there are any obvious problems with the heart and will test your blood pressure with either a manual or electronic a blood pressure monitor
- Blood test - the initial investigation also usually includes requesting a blood test to determine if the blood cholesterol (both the LDL ("bad") and HDL ("good") levels of cholesterol) and triglycerides are too high, which can indicate an underlying heart condition which needs to be treated
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Further tests can be requested to confirm diagnosis of angina if initial diagnosis warrants:
- Chest x-ray - an x-ray of the chest cavity showing the heart and lungs can be done to rule out any other underlying health conditions for the cause of the angina
- Coronary angiography - this diagnostic test is the most accurate way to measure the severity and extent of coronary artery disease, but it is a very invasive and costly test that requires a hospital stay to recover. The coronary angiography involves insertion of a thin, long, flexible tube (called a catheter) is into an artery in the forearm or groin which is then guided towards the heart with the special camera that is at the end of the catheter (and the images can be viewed on a special monitor to help with guidance). Once the catheter is in the right place (near where the coronary artery blockage or narrowing is suspected to be), a special contrast fluid (which can be viewed on the x-ray monitor) is injected into the catheter to show blood flow inside the coronary arteries and to identify any areas that are narrow or blocked. A coronary angiography usually takes about 30-60 minutes and is done without sedation (although a sedative will be given about an hour before the procedure to help relax you, but not put you to sleep). A coronary angiography does carry some risks, especially in people who may have serious heart disease, but your doctor will only recommend this procedure if the benefits outweigh the risks
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) - an electrocardiogram records the electrical impulses of the heart and it can identify any problems with the heart rate and rhythm. It may also be able to show changes related to a blocked artery, which could be the reason for the angina. The ECG is a common test which is routinely done for people with any type of chest pain as it can provide a quick result
- Nuclear stress test - the nuclear stress test is similar to the exercise stress test, but in addition to the procedure in that test, a radioactive isotope is injected into a vein in the arm which travels to the heart and will display any blockages or narrowing in a coronary artery on the special scanner which displays the images for the cardiologist to diagnose. This test is usually performed more commonly instead of the coronary angiography, as it is less invasive, less expensive and quicker to help diagnose coronary artery disease
- Stress test - an exercise stress test involves being hooked up to some electrical monitoring leads to certain spots on the body, while walking on a treadmill. The speed and elevation of the treadmill is gradually increased until it is too difficult to continue. The stress test is done to measure the activity of the heart while exercising, from an easy pace to a more difficult one, to determine if there are any underlying problems with the heart (such as blockages in the arteries) which will be able to be diagnosed from the activity of the heart. The stress test is usually not performed on people who cannot walk
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< 7: when to see a doctor 9: conventional treatment > Last reviewed: 24 August 2007 || Last updated: 6 January 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
