Angina

This restricts the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart.

Angina is often described as a heavy feeling or tightness in your chest. Sometimes the feeling can travel down your torso to your arms, back or stomach. Some people experience angina as a dull ache - others as chest pain. You may also feel short of breath. Anxiety, stress or physical activity can bring on angina symptoms or simple things like finishing a big meal or colder temperatures.

Angina is not a disease. But it is a symptom of heart disease and a warning sign of heart attack. If you experience symptoms of angina you should seek medical assistance immediately.

Related tests and scans

Angiography

An angiography (or cardiac catheterisation) is a test that can detect blockages or narrowing in the coronary arteries.

CT calcium scoring (or cardiac calcium scoring)

CT calcium scoring is a CT scan to check for deposits or build-up of plaque on the walls of your coronary arteries (arteries that supply blood to your heart).

Cardiac MRI

Cardiac (heart) MRI images allow physicians to better determine the presence of certain diseases that may not be as easily seen with other imaging methods such as x-ray or ultrasound.

Related treatments and procedures

Assessment of all Aspects of Cardiology

Cardiac catheterisation (coronary angiogram)

Cardiac catheterisation involves inserting a very thin tube into the right side of your heart.

Cardiac clinical pharmacology

Cardiac clinical pharmacology involves the prescribing and monitoring of drugs used to treat a variety of cardiac conditions.

Cardiac rehabilitation

Following a heart attack or after some surgical procedures your consultant may recommend cardiac rehabilitation.

Carotid endarterectomy

Sometimes plaque begins to build up on the walls of the arteries supplying blood and oxygen to the head and neck.

Coronary Angioplasty (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention or PCI)

Coronary angioplasty (or PCI) is a procedure to re-open a narrowed heart artery by inflating a tiny balloon in the narrowed segments.

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)

If conservative methods to treat your angina are not successful your consultant may recommend coronary artery bypass graft.

Interventional cardiology

Interventional cardiology includes procedures performed on the heart using catheterisation (tiny, flexible tubes).

Interventional radiology

Interventional radiology is a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery that uses radiological image guidance (X-rays, ultrasound, CT and MRI) to aid treatment.