What is the Differance Between Angina & a Heart Attack?

Angina is the medical term for chest pain.  Angina can be caused by an insufficient supply of blood and oxygen to the heart muscle. The body responds to this oxygen deprivation with pain (many people refer to the pain as tightness or pressure) in the chest, arms, shoulders, neck and/or jaw. Some people also experience shortness of breath, fatigue, sweating, dizziness and/or vomiting. It is most frequently caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries. The narrowing is due to buildup of fatty deposits (plaque or atherosclerosis) within the artery walls.

Do not ignore these warning signs, as they are strong indicators of an impending cardiac event. If you experience chest pain, immediately call 9-1-1. Do not drive yourself to the hospital.

What is the differance between a Heart Attack and Angina?

A Heart Attack is when the fatty plaque deposits have built-up enough to effectivly close off the artery thus preventing all oxygen rich blood from traveling to the heart.  In this situations, if help isn't obtained immediately then the patient runs the risk of developing permanent heart damage or death.

Warning Signs of a Heart Attack:

Dyspepsia (pain or an uncomfortable feeling in the upper middle part of your stomach) or Chest Pain accompanied by the following:
Nausea   *   Abdominal Bloating   *    Belching & or Vomiting   *   Severe Pain in the Upper Right Abdomen   *   Discomfort Unrelated to Eating   *   Shortness of Breath   *    Sweating   *    Pain Radiating to the Arms, Shoulder, Neck or Jaw   *   Pressure, Fullness, Squeezing, Pain and/ or Discomfort in the Center of the Chest that lasts for more than a few minutes   *   Chest Pain that Increases in Intensity and/ or is not Relieved by Rest or by Taking Cardiac Prescription Medications   *   Dizziness or Fainting   *   Rapid or Irregular Pulse

Although chest pain discomfort is the key warning sign of a heart attack, remember that 1/3 of patients may not have chest pain or discomfort.  Heart Attacks can be confused with indigestion, pneumonia or a number of other disorders.