It's usually located near the center of the chest. The pain or discomfort occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle doesn't meet the heart's needs. As a result, the heart doesn't get enough oxygen and nutrients. The discomfort occurs most often during exercise or emotional stress. That's when the heart rate and blood pressure increase, and the heart muscle needs more oxygen.
People describe it as a heaviness, tightness, oppressive pain, burning, pressure or squeezing.
Usually it's located behind the breastbone. Sometimes it spreads to the arms, neck or jaws. It may also cause a numbness in the shoulders, arms or wrists. Angina is caused by atherosclerosis. This is the narrowing of the coronary arteries caused by deposits of fatty substances such as cholesterol.