Chest pain stands as one of the primary reasons why people decide to seek medical help. The pain intensity and discomfort in the chest will usually vary widely from minor irritation to an intense debilitating pain.
In addition, chest pain can have multiple causes as well, which may either be harmless or can pose serious health risks. Angina stands out as a major heart-related issue that requires proper awareness along with the knowledge of effective treatment strategies.
Knowing how to differentiate between angina and typical chest pain is essential because it helps decide whether there’s a need for doctor’s consultation or not. And as we already know, swift actions can often save lives if by chance the pain stems from something heart related.
Moreover, the ability to differentiate angina from chest pain of non-cardiac origins holds critical significance in easing panic and emotional stress in the sufferer. Misidentifying one for the other can create needless stress or can also lead to dangerous treatment delays.
Today’s blog lists down the top four distinguishing characteristics that separate angina from typical chest pain.
4 Points of Difference Between Angina and Normal Chest Pain
Angina often has some tell-tale signs that you’ll not experience with normal chest pain. While both can be short-lived, there are some differences that separate cardiac-related pain due to angina from usual symptoms.
1. Nature of Pain
Patients experiencing angina feel pressure and squeezing in their chest that resembles the feeling of having a heavy weight or tight band across their chest. The pain can extend from the chest to other areas too, including the left arm, shoulders, neck, jaw, and back.
However, women with angina might experience atypical symptoms, such as unusual fatigue, sleep disturbances, shortness of breath and back or abdominal pain instead of the common chest pressure.
Due to these differences in symptoms, self diagnosis is almost always risky. That’s why it’s recommended to see a cardiologist in Patna for a chest pain that persists and doesn’t go away on its own.
Quite contrary to angina pain, normal chest pain typically manifests differently. Musculoskeletal pain usually presents as sharp stabbing sensations concentrated at a specific location that often becomes evident when touched. Physical movement and breathing deeply alongside direct pressure on the area usually increases this kind of pain.
One other common reason for non-angina chest pain is digestive conditions, however the nature of pain is different. Digestive conditions that cause chest pain typically present as burning or gnawing sensations which occur more after eating or when lying down.
Furthermore, anxiety also causes some people to experience chest pain. A persistent chest ache accompanied by rapid breathing and tingling sensations indicates anxiety-induced chest discomfort.
However, this kind of pain is localized in nature and should be felt like a stabbing sharp sensation. Anxiety related pain mostly happens when you are under heavy stress or feeling panicky.
2. Cause
Angina develops when the heart muscle receives reduced blood flow. In this case, coronary arteries which deliver blood to the heart become obstructed by the build-up of fats and cholesterol deposits leading to insufficient oxygen-rich blood delivery to the heart. This oxygen deprivation triggers angina pain.
So, what causes angina is typically the lack of oxygen supply to the heart muscles. Now, coronary artery disease isn’t the only cause behind this. It can also originate from coronary spasm or severe anemia and aortic valve stenosis.
On the contrary, normal chest pain usually stems from conditions that are not related to heart issues.
Musculoskeletal problems, strain from coughing and physical exertion along with complications from nearby structures like the lungs, esophagus, or stomach represent some of the common causes.
In reality, numerous patients with non-cardiac chest pain mistakenly become anxious about heart disease when their discomfort originates from acid reflux, anxiety problems, or lung infections.
That’s why the correct knowledge of various causes enables patients to obtain the right medical attention instead of panicking or ignoring serious symptoms.
3. Duration
The duration of angina pain usually demonstrates a consistent pattern. When the factor causing stable angina stops, such as exercise or stress, the episodes typically resolve within three to five minutes and seldom extend past fifteen minutes.
However, pay attention to the duration because the presence of pain even during rest or sleep that does not subside indicates unstable angina, and this is a condition that requires urgent medical intervention.
The pain associated with unstable angina often persists beyond 15 minutes and serves as a warning sign of a possible heart attack. The timing pattern of chest pain also provides healthcare workers valuable diagnostic insights during assessment.
On the other hand, normal chest pain that’s not cardiac related shows various timing patterns. Musculoskeletal pain may last from hours up to days until the root cause is cured. In this case, you should also feel either relaxation or aggravated pain when changing body positioning.
The occurrence of digestive-related chest pain often follows a pattern that matches meal times or whenever you consume particular foods that you can’t tolerate.
Chest discomfort stemming from anxiety persists throughout the duration you’re in an anxious state but usually subsides once you have calmed down.
Normal chest pain displays variable timing based on its unique underlying cause while angina maintains consistent duration patterns tied to physical exertion or stress.
Assessing the duration is actually a crucial factor for distinguishing these conditions.
4. Relief with Rest or Medication
Angina has distinctive relief patterns that differentiate it from other chest pain causes. For example, if angina pain is triggered by exercise, stopping physical activity leads to reduced oxygen demand. If you have stable angina, the pain should now improve after resting.
Also, nitroglycerin medication delivers quick relief by dilating blood vessels which improves cardiac muscle blood supply. When patients are able to experience relief from rest and nitroglycerin treatment, it serves as a key diagnostic indicator of stable angina.
However, in patients with unstable angina, the pain relief can deviate from typical patterns because the pain may surface with minimal exertion or even at rest.
It also shows less consistent reactions to nitroglycerin medication. This is your cue to seek immediate medical evaluation without any more delay.
Conversely, when we talk about standard chest pain, it usually resolves when treatments address the root cause. Patients with musculoskeletal pain can experience relief through the use of over-the-counter medications or by applying heat and changing their body position.
Moreover, antacids or acid-reducing medications can easily provide relief for chest pain connected to digestive issues.
People who suffer from anxiety-induced chest tightness usually find relief through relaxation techniques and deep breathing exercises or by taking anti-anxiety medications, though it should only be taken with a doctor’s prescription.
If you are experiencing the classic squeezing pain of angina and not finding relief from rest or nitroglycerin, book an appointment with a cardiologist right away.
Also, the wide variation in symptoms will make it very confusing for you to self diagnose, which is also dangerous when there are persistent symptoms. So, it’s better to get help from a doctor when in doubt and the pain doesn’t go away.
When to See a Doctor?
Any chest pain displaying specific features requires immediate medical evaluation regardless of its suspected origin.
Emergency medical care should be sought for intense chest pain that presents with shortness of breath, nausea, lightheadedness, sweating, or pain extending to the jaw, neck, or arms.
Note that patients who experience chest pain with normal blood pressure and heart rate generally have non-cardiac issues. Yet cardiac causes cannot be completely ruled out because specific heart conditions can manifest without noticeable changes in vital signs, especially during its initial phase.
Seek professional medical evaluation for new or concerning symptoms because even healthcare professionals will need time to run diagnostic tests to accurately diagnose chest pain.
Life expectancy with angina relies on early diagnosis and proper treatment as those who receive proper care can maintain normal lives for several decades.
On the other hand, when angina remains untreated or is not managed properly, it may also develop into more serious heart diseases.
Time is of crucial importance whenever you experience a suspected cardiac event. Every minute counts and quick medical response can greatly enhance patient survival rates while avoiding irreversible heart damage.
Treat Chest Pain Effectively to Regain Your Health
Knowing the differences between angina and normal chest pain enables people to make educated choices regarding their need for medical consultation.
Angina presents as tightness and pressure from poor heart muscle blood flow. Whereas, typical chest pain commonly originates from musculoskeletal, digestive or anxiety issues and shows specific distinguishing traits.
Assessing the duration and characteristics of chest pain along with how it responds to rest and medication helps distinguish between different conditions. Not to mention, professional medical assessment remains crucial for accurate diagnosis.
If you are experiencing ongoing chest pain, do not diagnose yourself and always seek medical help immediately when uncertain.
Big Apollo Spectra, the best heart specialist hospital in Patna, offers comprehensive cardiac evaluations through expert cardiologists who will help you with advanced diagnostic tests and customized treatment plans.
Adopt a heart-healthy diet alongside stress management techniques and abstinence from smoking to experience fewer angina attacks while improving your cardiac health.
