What is angina?

Angina is an uncomfortable feeling in the chest that is usually brought
on by exercise or emotional upset. For some people it is hardly a pain at all,
but for others it can be severe. The commonest complaint is of a heaviness
or tightness in the middle of the chest. This may spread to the left shoulder,
arm and hand or to the neck, throat and jaw. The pain usually lasts from 1-10
minutes.
Sometimes, though not often, an attack of angina can come on when
you are resting. An attack is more likely when you are walking quickly,
walking uphill, when you are upset or when you are excited. It is more likely
after a meal, or in cold weather or when you are carrying a weight. Slowing
down or resting will ease the pain.
Angina as a warning pain
Angina is a built in warning device, telling you that your heart is trying
to do too much and that you must take it easier.
The heart and its blood supply
The strong muscles of the heart need their own supply of food and
oxygen so that they can pump blood to the whole body. The coronary
arteries are the tubes that run round the outside of the heart, delivering
blood, with food and oxygen, to the heart’s muscles. Two arteries branch off
from the main blood flow out of the heart. One of these forks into two, so
that there are three main coronary arteries. These branch again many times,
so that blood reaches all parts of the heart’s muscular wall.