¿Qué es la angina?
Blood carries oxygen to the heart and the rest of your body. When your heart doesn’t get enough oxygen-rich blood, you may experience angina, which is the medical term for chest pain or discomfort. Angina is a warning sign that blood flow to your heart muscle is limited and is most often related to blockages in the heart’s arteries.
Types of angina
How you experience angina depends on the type you have. There are two main types:
- Stable angina: This is the most common form of angina and describes chest pain after physical activity or stress. Also known as angina pectoris, it occurs predictably over two months or longer.
- Unstable angina: Unstable angina is unpredictable and may cause intense chest pain and occurs whether you’re exercising or at rest. Left untreated, unstable angina can result in a Ataque al corazón.
There are also less common types of angina, including:
- Microvascular angina: A condition within the heart’s tiny blood vessels that causes chest pain for long periods. It may occur with rest or exertion.
- Vasospastic angina: A spasm inside the heart causes intense chest pain, often when resting, and may occur in the middle of the night.
Síntomas de angina
The most common symptom of angina is discomfort in the chest that may feel like burning, pressure, squeezing or tightness. Additionally, you may experience:
- Light-headedness
- Náusea
- Dificultad para respirar
- Sweating for no reason
- Cansancio
- Debilidad
In some cases, the pain doesn’t stay confined to your chest. It can radiate into your shoulders, back, neck, jaw or arms. While angina symptoms are always the same, the severity and duration vary based on the type of angina you have.
¿Es angina o un infarto?
Angina is a common heart attack symptom. You should always call 911 if you have concerning chest pain, but here are some key differences between angina and heart attack-related chest pain.
Although scary, angina does not cause permanent damage.
Angina
- No dure más de 20 minutos
- Ocurren con el esfuerzo o la excitación
- Vete con descanso
Ataque al corazón
- Dura más de 20 minutos
- Puede ocurrir sin actividad o excitación
- No te vayas con el descanso
Additional heart attack warning signs include:
- Molestias en la espalda, el cuello, la mandíbula o el estómago
- Estallar en un sudor frío, náuseas o mareos
- Molestias en el pecho
- Molestias en uno o ambos brazos
- Shortness of breath Women and men can experience heart attack symptoms differently.
Learn more about these differences on our women’s heart health page.
What causes angina?
Coronary heart disease, the most common heart disease in America, is the leading cause of angina. It occurs when the arteries build up fat, cholesterol and other substances. The arteries become narrowed or blocked, reducing blood flow to the heart and increasing the risk of developing dangerous blood clots that can cause a heart attack or stroke.
Angina risk factors
Anyone can experience angina. But, your risk for this common heart problem increases with the following:
- Age: The older you get, the higher your risk for most types of angina. However, vasospastic angina often affects younger people.
- Other medical conditions: Chest pain can be caused by anemia (low red blood cells), chronic kidney disease, peripheral artery disease and Miocardiopatía (conditions that affect the heart muscle).
- Family history: Your risk for angina increases if your parents, siblings or other close relatives have experienced angina or other heart conditions.
- Ethnicity: African Americans are more likely to experience angina, especially if they’ve already had a heart attack.
- Particle pollution: Dust particles from farms, construction sites and mines can cause chest pain.
- Sex: Until age 55, men are more likely than women to have heart disease and angina. After that age, women and men are equally at risk.
- Tobacco exposure: Smoking cigarettes and secondhand smoke exposure can lead to chest pain.
- Unhealthy lifestyle: Misusing alcohol or illegal drugs, not managing stress, eating an unhealthy diet, and not getting enough physical activity can increase your risk of angina.
- Work environment: Occupations that expose you to radiation or loud noises, are extremely stressful, or make it difficult to get good sleep, increase your chance of developing angina.
Diagnosing angina
Diagnosing angina begins with a discussion about your personal and family medical history. Your provider will also perform a physical exam to check your blood pressure, pulse and heart rate.
During this exam, your provider may ask you questions about:
- When your chest pain occurs and how long it lasts
- Whether it occurs with certain activities
- What the pain feels like and where it’s located
- If anything helps the pain improve
Depending on the results of your physical exam, your provider may recommend one or more of the following tests.
-
Análisis de sangre
Análisis de sangre
One common blood test for angina looks for a protein that leaks into the bloodstream when your heart gets damaged. Your provider may also check your cholesterol levels.
-
Pruebas de estrés
Pruebas de estrés
Stress tests evaluate heart performance and blood flow to the heart at rest and during various levels of exercise.
-
Electrocardiograma (ECG O EKG)
Electrocardiograma (ECG O EKG)
An electrocardiogram records electrical activity in your heart. Abnormalities can suggest heart disease and angina.
-
Imagen
Imagen
Various cardiac imaging tests, such as a chest X-ray, cardiac MRI or coronary computed tomography angiography, give providers an inside look at your heart’s function.
-
Ecocardiograma
Ecocardiograma
An echocardiogram, or echo, gives doctors a closer and more detailed look at the heart’s structure.
-
Angiogram
Angiogram
An angiogram also offers a closer look at heart structure, but this test specifically helps identify narrow or blocked blood vessels in the heart.
Análisis de sangre
One common blood test for angina looks for a protein that leaks into the bloodstream when your heart gets damaged. Your provider may also check your cholesterol levels.
Pruebas de estrés
Stress tests evaluate heart performance and blood flow to the heart at rest and during various levels of exercise.
Electrocardiograma (ECG O EKG)
An electrocardiogram records electrical activity in your heart. Abnormalities can suggest heart disease and angina.
Imagen
Various cardiac imaging tests, such as a chest X-ray, cardiac MRI or coronary computed tomography angiography, give providers an inside look at your heart’s function.
Ecocardiograma
An echocardiogram, or echo, gives doctors a closer and more detailed look at the heart’s structure.
Angiogram
An angiogram also offers a closer look at heart structure, but this test specifically helps identify narrow or blocked blood vessels in the heart.
Angina treatment and care options
Unstable angina requires emergency care, as it can lead to a heart attack. Call 911 if you or someone with you experiences unstable angina symptoms.
Stable angina may respond to one or more of the following treatments.
-
Cambios en el estilo de vida
Cambios en el estilo de vida
You can better control stable angina by eating a balanced diet, reaching a healthy weight, exercising regularly, managing stress and not smoking.
-
Medicación
Medicación
Certain medications can help manage angina and its symptoms. You may need medication to reduce pain, relax blood vessels or other parts of your heart, lower cholesterol levels or prevent blood clots.
-
Terapias
Terapias
Enhanced external counter-pulsation, or EECP, is a non-invasive procedure that can help reduce the frequency or intensity of the angina symptoms you experience.
-
Cirugía y procedimientos
Cirugía y procedimientos
Surgery can correct an underlying health issue causing chest pain. Common surgeries for angina include coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), which improve blood flow by addressing blockages and plaque buildup in the blood vessels and arteries.
Cambios en el estilo de vida
You can better control stable angina by eating a balanced diet, reaching a healthy weight, exercising regularly, managing stress and not smoking.
Medicación
Certain medications can help manage angina and its symptoms. You may need medication to reduce pain, relax blood vessels or other parts of your heart, lower cholesterol levels or prevent blood clots.
Terapias
Enhanced external counter-pulsation, or EECP, is a non-invasive procedure that can help reduce the frequency or intensity of the angina symptoms you experience.
Cirugía y procedimientos
Surgery can correct an underlying health issue causing chest pain. Common surgeries for angina include coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), which improve blood flow by addressing blockages and plaque buildup in the blood vessels and arteries.
Baylor Scott & White Denton Heart Group - Gainesville
201 N Interstate 35 Ste 140, Gainesville, TX, 76240- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Amarillo
1901 medi park dr ste 2051, amarillo, tx, 79106
Baylor Scott & White Arrhythmia Management - Prosper
111 S Preston Rd Ste 10, Prosper, TX, 75078- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Legacy Heart Center - Prosper
111 S Preston Rd Ste 10, Prosper, TX, 75078- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White The Heart Group - Prosper
111 S Preston Rd Ste 10, Prosper, TX, 75078
Baylor Scott & White Cardiovascular Consultants - Denton
3333 Colorado Blvd , Denton, TX, 76210- Monday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Denton Heart Group
3333 Colorado Blvd , Denton, TX, 76210- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Arrhythmia Management - Denton
3333 Colorado Blvd , Denton, TX, 76210- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital - Denton
2801 S Mayhill Rd , Denton, TX, 76208
Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital Cardiovascular Clinic - Denton
3341 Unicorn Lake Blvd , Denton, TX, 76210- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White The Heart Group - McKinney
5236 W University Dr Ste 4450, McKinney, TX, 75071- Monday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am - 7:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Legacy Heart Center - McKinney
5236 W University Dr Ste 4100, McKinney, TX, 75071- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Arrhythmia Management - McKinney
5236 W University Dr POB I, Ste 4900, McKinney, TX, 75071- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - McKinney
5252 W University Dr Highway 380 at Lake Forest Drive, McKinney, TX, 75071
Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital - McKinney
5268 W University Dr , McKinney, TX, 75071
Baylor Scott & White Legacy Heart Center - Frisco
9990 Dallas Pkwy Ste 100, Frisco, TX, 75033- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White The Heart Group - Craig Ranch
6800 State Highway 121 , McKinney, TX, 75070
Baylor Scott & White Cardiovascular Consultants at The Star
3800 Gaylord Pkwy Ste 910, Frisco, TX, 75034- Monday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Centenario
12505 Lebanon Rd , Frisco, TX, 75035
Baylor Scott & White The Heart Group - Frisco
4461 Coit Rd Ste 101, Frisco, TX, 75035- Monday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Friday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Cardiovascular Consultants - Plano
6000 W Spring Creek Pkwy Ste 220, Plano, TX, 75024- Monday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Cardiovascular Consultants - Flower Mound
4421 Long Prairie Rd Ste 200, Flower Mound, TX, 75028- Monday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Legacy Heart Center - Plano Spring Creek Parkway
5655 W Spring Creek Pkwy Ste 155, Plano, TX, 75024- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Legacy Heart Center - Plano Preston Road
6601 Preston Rd , Plano, TX, 75024- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Arrhythmia Management - Plano
1820 Preston Park Blvd Ste 1450, Plano, TX, 75093- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Plano
4700 Alliance Blvd , Plano, TX, 75093
Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital - Plano
1100 Allied Dr , Plano, TX, 75093
Global Heart Health Center
4716 Alliance Blvd Pavilion II, Ste 300, Plano, TX, 75093
Centro de ritmo cardíaco
4716 Alliance Blvd Pavilion II, Ste 300, Plano, TX, 75093
Baylor Scott & White The Heart Recovery Center - Plano
4716 Alliance Blvd Pavilion II, Ste 350, Plano, TX, 75093- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thoracic Aortic Disease Center
4716 Alliance Blvd Pavilion II, Ste 300, Plano, TX, 75093- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Genetics Center
4716 Alliance Blvd Pavilion II, Ste 350, Plano, TX, 75093
Baylor Scott & White Cardiovascular Consultants - Plano II
4716 Alliance Blvd Ste 340, Plano, TX, 75093- Monday: 8:30 am - 4:45 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am - 4:45 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am - 4:45 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am - 4:45 pm
- Friday: 8:30 am - 4:45 pm
Baylor Scott & White The Heart Group - Plano
4716 Alliance Blvd Pavilion II, Ste 340, Plano, TX, 75093- Monday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Cardiovascular Consultants - Keller
620 S Main St Ste 240, Keller, TX, 76248- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Grapevine
1650 W College St , Grapevine, TX, 76051
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Vein Clinic of North Texas - Grapevine
1600 W College St Ste LL10, Grapevine, TX, 76051- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Arrhythmia Management - Grapevine
2020 W State Highway 114 Ste 320, Grapevine, TX, 76051
Baylor Scott & White Cardiovascular Consultants - Grapevine
2020 W State Highway 114 Ste 200, Grapevine, TX, 76051- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Legacy Heart Center - Garland
7217 Telecom Pkwy Ste 205, Garland, TX, 75044- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Arrhythmia Management - Garland
7217 Telecom Pkwy Ste 205, Garland, TX, 75044- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Cardiology Consultants of Texas - Greenville
4400 Interstate 30 W Ste 300, Greenville, TX, 75402- Monday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Cottonwood Cardiology - Las Colinas
400 W IH 635 Ste 210, Irving, TX, 75063
Baylor Scott & White Texas Cardiac Associates - Royse City
6257 FM 2642 Blvd Ste 100, Royse City, TX, 75189
Baylor Scott & White Cardiothoracic Surgery - Irving
1110 Cottonwood Ln Ste 215, Irving, TX, 75038- Monday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Friday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Vein Clinic of North Texas - Irving
1110 Cottonwood Ln Ste 210, Irving, TX, 75038- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Cottonwood Cardiology - Irving
1110 Cottonwood Ln Ste 105, Irving, TX, 75038- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Cardiovascular Specialists - Rockwall
6705 Heritage Pkwy Ste 202, Rockwall, TX, 75087- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Lake Pointe
6800 Scenic Dr , Rowlett, TX, 75088
Baylor Scott & White Texas Cardiac Associates - Rowlett
7801 Lakeview Pkwy Ste 100, Rowlett, TX, 75088- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm