Angina is often described as a feeling of crushing, pressure, fullness, heaviness, or aching in the center of the chest. These sensations may extend into the neck, the jaw, and down the left arm. The type of angina known as stable angina is brought on by exertion, and relieved by rest or nitroglycerin. The type of angina known as unstable angina is more frequent and more severe. It can occur even when the person is resting.
Unstable angina is a medical emergency.
Usually, angina is very uncomfortable. However, in some cases symptoms are mild enough to be discounted as merely gas or indigestion. Also, a person may deny that he or she is experiencing chest pain and delay seeking help. Someone who has diabetes may not experience classic angina symptoms. In many cases, the angina is so mild that the person with diabetes can have a heart attack without knowing it.