I've had two heart attacks and one mini-stroke. Nonetheless, I feel pretty good for an old biddy, so I can't gripe too much. I have abdominal pain after eating. The chest pain of standard angina is caused by a lack of oxygen to the heart muscle, which cramps during exertion because of arterial blockage. A similar phenomenon can affect the intestine when there is significant arterial disease in the bowel.
Intestinal angina is diagnosed with a special X-ray test called arteriography.
Surgery may be necessary to bypass the obstructed arterial segment. Also called mesenteric ischemia, intestinal angina should not be ignored because it may progress to hemorrhage and death of portions of bowel. You should bring your symptoms to your doctor's attention. If surgery isn't necessary, he or she may be able to prescribe medicine, such as nitroglycerine, to alleviate your symptoms. Be sure to mention the title.