A stroke of angina

Coronary heart disease is most often manifested as angina pectoris. Signs of it - first of all sudden pressing and compressive pain in the area of the chest. It can feel on the left, near the heart.

The attack of angina is usually accompanied by pain, localized behind the chest and giving to the upper limbs, to the left shoulder blade and shoulder, to the neck. Sometimes she irradiates to the right, immediately in two hands. From the outside the person looks constrained, he freezes in that position in which he was caught by a pain, and is afraid to move once again. Some massage the chest in the region of the heart.

Often an attack of angina accompanies a feeling of fear.

The causes of angina pectoris are that the heart muscle is not adequately supplied with blood due to the narrowing of its artery in atherosclerosis. Sometimes the attack is caused by a vasospasm. There is a combination of these two factors. First, poor blood supply is manifested only during exercise, when the heart muscle is in great need of oxygen and nutrients. This is called angina pectoris. Her attacks appear only when walking uphill and just a quick step. They pass as soon as a person stops moving. The resumption of walking can lead to the appearance of pain, which forces it to stop several meters later. Less frequent attacks of angina pectoris can provoke anxiety. Sometimes it is caused by smoking, abundant food, alcohol. Progression of the disease leads to the occurrence of rest angina. In this case, pain appears during rest, even at night.

The attack of angina pectoris has one peculiarity, which makes it possible to exclude other causes easily and immediately - an immediate effect after taking nitroglycerin, which instantly stops pain. If the drug does not help, and it lasts for more than half an hour, you should be wary of developing myocardial infarction.

Not always pain in the left side of the chest testifies to angina. It can be a sign of neurosis, neurocirculatory dystonia, osteochondrosis, asthenoneurotic syndrome, heart defects, etc. Also, angina pectoris can accompany diseases of the gallbladder, kidneys, and stomach. Therefore, only an examination by a doctor can give an accurate answer. He must also systematically treat his patient.

Of course, a doctor can not always be contacted during an attack, and help should be given immediately. Therefore, the patient himself and his family must know how to act before the arrival of the ambulance. The first medical event is a rest. It is already sufficient for angina pectoris. Then you should take nitroglycerin, if after three minutes there will be no effect, the drug should be used repeatedly. You should always carry it with you and put it under your tongue, without waiting for unbearable pain. Validol is much slower. If repeated use of nitroglycerin does not help, you should urgently seek medical help.

To prevent attacks of angina pectoris, it is necessary to avoid pain-causing physical and nervous loads. And at the same time, complete rest is also undesirable, since it leads to degradation of the properties of the heart, plaques are deposited in the walls of the vessels, threatening the appearance of hypertension and atherosclerosis. Therefore, small loads that do not cause pain, are completely acceptable, even desirable. Under the supervision of a doctor, it is good to perform a complex of special therapeutic physical exercises, the exercises included in it will only help strengthen the patient, improve his overall condition. Since the attack of angina pectoris can easily provoke and overeating, it is necessary to adhere to a fractional diet and in general a diet recommended for atherosclerosis.