Could Your Chest Tightness Be Angina? What You Need to Know

Angina is often considered to be synonymous with “chest pain,” but the real picture is more nuanced than that. Angina is a symptom that correlates with an oxygen-deprived heart. Yes, you may experience classic pain, but chest tightness is another sign that you could have angina.

Approximately 11 million women and men in the United States have been diagnosed with angina. In addition to chest tightness or pain, you may experience other sensations, including profuse sweating and even nausea or dizziness.

At Advanced Medical Care in Queens and Brooklyn, New York, our experienced cardiology team investigates and diagnoses all forms of angina. If your chest feels tight — especially if it affects the depth of your breaths — Mikhail Kapchits, MD, can get to the root of the problem.

Could your chest tightness be related to angina? Here’s what to know and what to do.

Yes, it could be a heart attack

If you experience sudden chest pressure that’s severe or interferes with your breathing, call 911 immediately. No matter your age, no matter how fit you think you are, you could be having a heart attack.

Even if the pain is mild to moderate, or the pressure comes on gradually, it could be evidence of a struggling heart. Don’t dismiss your symptoms or assume they’re just a panic attack. Get help.

Test, don’t guess

Reading a blog can be useful in guiding you in the right direction for your health, but a blog can’t diagnose you or treat you. If you have chest tightness, you should find out why.

See Dr. Kapchits if you have mild to moderate chest pressure or if it develops gradually. He evaluates your heart’s function and measures your blood-oxygen levels to either diagnose cardiovascular disease or establish that your chest tightness is caused by another condition, such as:

• Hiatal hernia
• Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
• Pulmonary embolism
• Asthma
• Dysphagia
• Esophageal spasms
• Anxiety
• Panic attacks

No matter what our team finds, you no longer have to guess or worry about your chest pressure. You have an answer and a plan. If necessary, Dr. Kapchits prescribes medication so you can stave off another attack.

After testing, make some changes

Whether you suffer from chest pressure or not, lifestyle changes and new habits can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Let us know if you need help adjusting your lifestyle by:

• Quitting smoking
• Losing excess fat
• Reducing or quitting alcohol
• Eating a whole-foods diet
• Reducing chronic stress
• Controlling your blood sugar

You should also engage in at least 2.5 hours of moderate exercise weekly. Also, work in a couple of days of resistance training per week to strengthen all of your muscles, including your heart. 

Add more movement into your daily life. Stand up and stretch after you finish reading this blog. Take walks outdoors after every meal. Find fun activities that you can do with your friends — this also partners anxiety-relieving social support with exercise.

Are you concerned about angina? If you’ve experienced chest tightness, find out why by booking a cardiology evaluation today. You can schedule an appointment with the team at Advanced Medical Care by phone or online.