Angina is pain or constricting discomfort (tightness) that typically occurs in the centre of the chest (but may radiate to the neck, shoulders, jaw or arms) and can be associated with breathlessness, nausea or sweating. It is normally brought on by conditions which temporarily increase myocardial oxygen demand e.g. physical exertion or exercise after eating or emotional stress or it may be brought on by exposure to cold, windy weather. It is usually predictable in onset and is normally relieved quickly by rest (less than 10 minutes) or by GTN spray.
It is important to be aware that the severity of the chest pain does not necessarily correlate with the seriousness of the underlying disease.
Reference: Braunwald, E. (1997). Cardiovascular medicine at the turn of the millennium: triumphs, concerns, and opportunities. New England Journal of Medicine. 337: pp 1360-1369
Angina pain:
The left side is the usual site of pain.
The right side is a less common site of pain.
The jaw is a less common site of pain.
The upper epigastric is a less common site of pain.
The back is a less common site of pain.
Pulse point
Stable angina is unlikely if the pain is:
- continuous or very prolonged and/or
- unrelated to activity and/or
- brought on by breathing in and/or
- associated with dizziness, palpitations, tingling or difficulty swallowing.
Anginal pain is not usually:
- sharp
- stabbing in nature
- influenced by respiration
- fleeting
- lasting all day.
Patients may present with atypical symptoms e.g.:
- upper epigastric pain
- shortness of breath only
- intrascapular pain
- left arm pain only
- jaw pain only
- no pain
- burning pain
Angina as a symptom CHSS booklet H1: Living with Angina [.pdf]
Page last reviewed: 29 May 2020
