People who suffer from angina pectoris, experience chest pain. Chest pain can be similar to the feeling of pressure and compression on the chest to the point that chest is crumbling. The pain starts from the middle of the chest and behind the chest bone or from the left front of chest and can spread to other parts of the body such as abdomen and arms.

The Causes of Angina Pectoris:

• Exercising (especially after having a heavy meal or in cold weather)
• Emotional stresses, usually in severe cases can cause chest pain.
• Stopping exercise leads to diminishing the pain in less than 1 or 2 minutes.

Symptoms:

The most important symptom of angina pectoris is feeling a pain in the front of the heart and behind the sternum. The pain sometimes spread to left and right hands, neck, lower jaw and back. Angina pectoris pain will improve by resting and prescribing Nitroglycerin and oxygen. Other symptoms include, shortness of breath, paleness, sweating, heart beat and digestive disorders.

Diagnosis:

The diagnosis is mostly based on the patient’s symptoms and history. Other diagnostic tests include electrocardiogram, exercise test, cardiac scan and angiography.

Prevention:

1. Quitting smoking: Smoking causes the arteries to harden and increases the risk of angina, hypertension, heart failure and stroke.
2. Consuming more fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are beneficial to the heart due to the low calorie.
3. Fats: Use more unsaturated fats such as herbal and liquid oil.
4. Eating low salt food: Check the sodium content of packaged or canned foods because salt is used as flavor in most foods. Try to replace the salty snacks with healthy ones such as fruits and vegetables.

Patient education tips upon discharging:

• Identify and adjust the causes of pain (Overworking, overeating or anger)
• Take a break between your activities at appropriate intervals.
• Avoid doing activities that are sudden or require lots of efforts.
• Elevators are preferred over stairs.
• Daily activities should be sufficient to prevent chest pain or shortness of breath.
• Avoid consuming flatulent foods and also avoid physical activities up to 2 hours after meal.
• In case of obesity, try to lose weight.
• Avoid overeating, consuming greasy, fried foods and caffeine.
• Consuming rich fiber diet due to preventing constipation and decrease the intensity and amount of angina attacks.
• Take the prescribed medicines on time and avoid quitting them arbitrary.
• Avoid confronting stressful situations and also avoid doing activities with hurry. Try to do your daily routines with peace and base on a schedule.
• Avoid being in the cold weather and cover your mouth and nose to warm yourself.
• If you are using Nitroglycerin sublingual pill, it should be accessible for you and even your family members.
• Always use fresh Nitroglycerin pills due to the expiration of these pills in 3 to 6 months.