Introduction

What is angina pectoris? Angina pectoris (stenocardia) is the result of myocardial ischemia (i.e. not the disease itself). Stenocardia (chest pain) is the medical term for chest pain or discomfort due to coronary heart disease. It occurs when the heart muscle doesn't get as much blood as it needs. This usually happens because one or more of the heart's arteries is narrowed or blocked, also called ischemia. Stenocardia is a clinical symptom which is characterized by pain felt right behind the sternum (retrosternal), which then expand in the pre-cordial region (around the heart) and on the left arm. The pain comes as a consequence of anoxia (lack of oxygen) of the myocardis (muscle of the heart), and subsides after the patient rests or after they take coronary-dilator medication (they expand the coronary blood vessels). Causes of angina pectoris The main and most common factor is atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries (arteries of the heart). This is the case in 90% of angina pectoris cases. Other causes include: Stenosis of the ostium of the aorta Insufficiency of the aorta Rheumatic coronaritis Panarteritis nodosa of the heart blood vessels Classification of angina Stable angina (stenocardia) Unstable angina Angina prinzmetal Myocardiosclerosis

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Medical Author: Dr. med. Diana Hysi