The well-being of blood vessels and heart is termed as vascular health. There are certain risk factors that elevate the tendency of atherosclerosis (disease of arteries). Identification of these risk factors and their early detection are crucial in improving vascular health. In fact, early detection of risk factors is the optimal route to attaining a healthy lifestyle.

A recently-discovered form of angina is microvascular angina. Individuals suffering from microvascular angina have no clear coronary artery blockages but do experience chest pain. Clinicians have determined the cause of these chest pains as poor functioning of small blood vessels around the heart, arms and legs. However, microvascular angina is treated with almost same medications used in treatment of angina pectoris.

Angina means “strangling” and pectoris denotes breast or front chest wall. Often individuals suffering from angina describe their pain as a sensation of tightness and complain, “I feel a pressure as if somebody is sitting on my chest.” Angina (chest pain) is a symptom of CAD (the most common heart disease). CAD occurs when plaque builds up inside the arteries and consequently reduces the blood flow to the heart by shortening the lumen of the artery. An angina stack often starts from the pit of the stomach and may radiate towards neck and lower jaw or shoulders and arms.

Generally, angina is accompanied by oppressive feelings of fear and apprehensiveness. The scale of impairment ranges from mild, occasional pain to frequent debilitating pain, which can make the most effortless work an exhausting ordeal.

You should suspect a heart disease if the frequency, duration and severity of angina increases, also, if angina is accompanied by heavy perspiration, moreover, if no relief is experienced with in 15 minutes of intake of 3 nitroglycerin tablets. Otherwise, pursue normal work and social life.

Rest for 10 to 15 minutes when angina occurs, after 3 minutes the pain is most likely to subside. Beware of excessive exercise, heavy meals, cigarette smoking, excitement, stress, haste, anger and frustrations for they tend to cause angina.