Angina - a common type of heart disease
Angina is a chest pain that occurs when the heart muscle does not get enough blood. The pressure or squeezing pain may also occur in arms, neck, shoulders, back or jaw.
Angina is a symptom of coronary artery disease which is the most common type of heart disease, and occurs when plaque builds up in the coronary arteries. This causes a reduction of blood flow to the heart, which in turn decreases the oxygen supply to the heart.
There are 3 types of angina-stable, unstable, and variant (Prinzmetal's). It is very important to know the differences among the types.
Stable
Stable angina is the most common type and occurs when the heart is working harder than usual. There is a regular pattern to stable angina follows a regular pattern, making it easy to recognize it after several episodes. The pain tends to go away after several minutes if you rest or take your medicine. Stable angina makes it more likely that a heart attack will occur in the future.
Unstable
Unstable angina requires emergency treatment as it is very dangerous and is often a sign that a heart attack could soon occur. Unlike stable angina, it does not follow a pattern. It can occur without physical exertion and is not relieved by rest or medicine.
Variant
Variant angina is rare and usually occurs at rest. The pain can be severe and usually occurs between midnight and early morning. It is relieved by medication.
However, not all chest pain or discomfort is a symptom of angina. It can be caused by a heart attack, lung problems, heartburn, or a panic attack. All chest pain should be checked by a physician.
Medication in our online drug store
The medication used to treat angina include nitrates, beta blockers and calcium channel blockers, all offered at our Canadian pharmacy at discounts. For example, Imdur (60 mg, 30 tab) is priced at $36 , while drugstore.com offers the same medication (Imdur, 60 mg, 30 tab) at $56.