At 54, Radha was as healthy as women of her age except for chest pains occuring now and then. These she dismissed as a discomforting tightness in her chest. This proved near fatal when one winter morning she suffered a heart attack. Her stars were bright for immediate medical attention saved her life. Unlike Radha, not many women are lucky. This chest pain that takes a toll on one's life is called Angina (medically known as Angina Pectoris).
Angina occurs when blood flow to the heart is reduced due to coronary artery disease. The resulting pain is due to the lack of oxygen in the heart. Angina is not a disease in itself but a symptom of an underlying heart problem. The pain may also occur in one's arms (particularly left arm), shoulders, jaw, neck or back. Symptoms include chest pain, heaviness, pressure, tightness or squeezing in the chest. Sometimes, it may be accompanied by anxiety, sweating and dizziness. In women, however, the symptoms could be misleading. Women are more likely to report a stabbing or sharp pain accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea or abdominal pain. Since these symptoms are not instantly recognised as Angina, diagnosis is often delayed.
Traditional belief
For many years, the prevalent myth was that angina was a male-centric problem. But studies have shown that it is a leading cause of heart attack in women and that more women are likely to suffer from stable angina (a kind of angina pectoris).
Traditionally doctors believed that post-menopausal women were more likely to suffer from angina but, now, this menacing ache is striking relatively young women. A considerable number of women in their mid-thirties now complain of chest pain and Angina-like symptoms. Changed lifestyle with increased stress and lack of regular exercise that leads to conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol are the main reasons for this.
Contrary to popular belief, Angina needs medical attention. There are four types of angina pain: Stable, Unstable, Variant and Microvascular. The severity and duration of each varies. While stable angina is the most common form of Angina and typically occurs with exertion and goes away with rest, unstable angina doesn't follow a pattern. It can occur with or without physical exertion and may not be relieved by rest or medicine.
Variant angina is rare. It is a severe form of angina that may occur while you are at rest. Medicines can relieve this type of angina. Microvascular angina is considered the severest of all and is longer-lasting in duration.
Needs attention
Whatever the type, it is crucial that women should seek medical help immediately even if experiencing chest pain for the first time. Not all chest pain is a sign of a heart problem but only medical tests can determine whether the angina you are facing is evidence of an underlying coronary heart disease or not. Don't ignore that chest pain; it could turn out to be a silent killer.
The writer is a cardiologist based in Noida.
