Conditions and symptoms
What Is Angina? Heart-Related Chest Pain Explained
Angina · say it: an-JY-nuhAlso written: angina pectoris, chest pain, cardiac chest pain, stable angina, Angina Pectoris, angina
Short answer
Angina is chest pain or tightness caused by the heart muscle not getting enough blood and oxygen, usually from narrowed heart arteries.
What it means
Angina is chest pain, tightness or pressure that happens when the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen-rich blood. It is usually caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries. It often comes on with exertion or stress and eases with rest or medicine, and may spread to the arm, neck, jaw or back. New chest pain, or angina that comes on at rest, lasts longer or does not settle with your usual medicine, needs emergency help, because it can be a heart attack.
Angina appears on labels in two ways. Medicines such as nitrates, beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers are labelled 'for angina'. Other labels warn that stopping some medicines suddenly (such as beta-blockers) can worsen angina, or that some medicines should not be combined, such as nitrates with erectile dysfunction medicines, because blood pressure can drop dangerously.
Angina is a warning sign of reduced blood flow; a heart attack (myocardial infarction) is when part of the heart muscle is actually damaged. Not all chest pain is angina; it can come from muscles, the stomach or the lungs.
Where you may see it
- Nitrate and beta-blocker labels under 'Indications'
- Erectile dysfunction medicine warnings about nitrates
- Cardiology letters and discharge summaries
📄 How it looks on a report
Do not use with nitrates prescribed for chest pain (angina), as this may cause a sudden, unsafe drop in blood pressure.
🙅 What it does not mean
- Chest pain is not always angina, but it should not be ignored.
- Angina is not the same as a heart attack, though it raises the risk of one.
- Stable angina does not mean nothing needs to be done; it still needs medical follow-up.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Angina”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Albuterol
A bronchodilator (a medicine that opens the airways) of the beta-2 adrenergic type. The FDA class is not listed, so this description comes from the label's own wording.
- Alendronate
a bisphosphonate, a medicine that slows the breakdown of bone by blocking cells called osteoclasts
- Amlodipine
a calcium channel blocker, a type of medicine that relaxes blood vessels
- Atenolol
a beta-blocker (beta-adrenergic blocker). The label describes it as a beta 1-selective, or cardioselective, blocking agent.
- Atorvastatin
a statin, a cholesterol-lowering medicine of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor type
- Bisoprolol Fumarate
a beta-blocker, which the label describes as a synthetic, beta 1-selective (cardioselective) adrenoceptor blocking agent
- Carvedilol
A beta-blocker. The FDA lists it as both an alpha-adrenergic blocker and a beta-adrenergic blocker.
- Clopidogrel
A platelet inhibitor of the P2Y12 type (a thienopyridine). It is a blood thinner that keeps platelets from sticking together.
- Diclofenac Sodium
A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). The FDA class is not listed on the label.
- Enalapril
An angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Angina” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
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