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Mary Kyle
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A Woman's Heart, What is Angina Anyway?

I’ve often heard someone say that they had “angina” but have never really been clear on exactly what they meant. One friend in particular would shrug her shoulders when suffering from an angina attack and say, “Oh, it’s only angina.”

Because of her assertion that her chest pain was “only angina,” I’ve operated under the false presumption that angina is not a serious condition and that you really don’t need to worry about it too much. Actually, nothing could be farther from the truth.

What is Angina?
Angina is sometimes called angina pectoris, which is simply Latin for pain in the chest. Chest pain is not a normal state! Anytime you are experiencing chest pain, it should serve as a signal that something is wrong. While angina in and of itself is not a disease, it is your body's way of raising a flag and alerting you to the fact that there is a serious underlying problem and that you may have coronary artery disease.

What are the Symptoms of Angina?
The symptoms of angina are very similar to those of a heart or anxiety attack. Those suffering from angina will generally experience chest pain which is caused by a lack of blood flow to the heart.

We value and respect the experiences of all of our HerWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.