Angina is chest pain brought on typically by exertion or physical activity which is relieved with rest. It is caused by cholesterol build up in the heart (coronary) arteries which in turn limits the flow of blood through the artery to part of the heart muscle. Pain results from the lack of oxygenated blood reaching the heart muscle as it relieved by rest +/- GTN spray.
Generally, when chest pain is due to angina, there is no permanent damage to heart muscle (although it comes close). However, during a heart attack, there is complete occlusion of the blood supply to that area of heart muscle which is consequently damaged permanently. In certain circumstances, some heart may muscle may only be stunned rather than permanently damaged and may recover later.
A CT coronary angiogram or cardiac CT scan is now the recommended first line test for assessing angina and seeing whether the coronary arteries have any cholesterol narrowings in them or not. We can then decide on the best form of treatment thereafter which could be:
- Medications such as aspirin, statins, beta blocker tablets and nitrate spray / tablets
- Interventional therapy such as implantation coronary stents.
- Surgical treatment such as coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) operations.
Sometimes you will experience chest pains which are very short-lived (a few seconds) occurring at rest rather than on exertion. These are unlikely to be anginal pains. But if you are concerned or worried about any chest pains you are experiencing, a cardiac CT scan is likely to be the best test as it will not only assess whether the coronary arteries are normal or diseased, but it also assesses other structures in the chest area which may alternate causes of chest pain too.
Read more about cardiac CT on our Services page and if you would like to discuss any of the above further, please book an appointment.
