That's where the New England Journal of Medicine article I told you about comes in. We know that the doctors, for women and African Americans, were less likely to find and react to these subtle symptoms. In its most typical form, it is in the middle of the chest. It can feel like a pressure, rather than a pain, and it usually occurs with exertion and goes away when you stop the activity and rest. Not everyone has this typical angina.
Some folks note pain in the shoulder or the jaw.
Others feel profoundly weak or short of breath. Others can develop nausea or abdominal pain. Panic Attacks and Heartburn Two very common conditions that can produce chest pain and are frequently confused with angina are esophageal reflux disease and panic attacks. Panic attacks are more likely to occur in a younger person, who experiences chest pain and shortness of breath, as well as a great deal of anxiety. Of course it can work the other way.