If at anytime you experience the following signs or symptoms, go to an emergency room immediately and contact your physician. Sudden change in vision, strength, coordination, speech or sensation Chest pain, or angina occurs when blockages in the coronary arteries prevent the heart from getting enough blood and oxygen, a condition known as ischemia. The pain may be dull and heavy, but it may also be choking or squeezing and spread to the throat, neck, jaw, teeth and to the left arm. Sweating, nausea, dizziness or breathing difficulties may result.
Atherosclerosis is the narrowing of the coronary arteries.
The key differences between angina and a heart attack are crucial to your health. Stable angina describes the chest pain which is caused by a fixed blockage of blood flow in one or more of the coronary arteries. The pain casued by this blockage is predictable, occuring during physical exertion. Unstable angina describes a chest pain of increasing severity which is unpredictable, and occurs at rest. It may imply that the underlying situation is worsening and often signals a developing heart attack.