HEALTH ENLIGHTENMENT

PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO CONTROL ANGINA

Angina, which is also known as angina pectoris, is the sensation of chest pain, pressure, or squeezing, often due to not enough blood flow to the heart muscle as a result of obstruction or spasm of the coronary arteries.  Angina pectoris occurs due to anemia, abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure. One of the main of causes of this is coronary artery disease, an atherosclerotic process affecting the arteries feeding the heart. Angina pectoris which is derived from the Latin word angere which means “to strangle" and pectus which means “chest", but when put together, it is translated as "a strangling feeling in the chest".

Worsening angina, sudden-onset angina at rest, and angina lasting more than 15 minutes are symptoms of unstable angina (usually grouped with similar conditions as the acute coronary syndrome). As these may precede a heart attack, they require urgent medical attention and are, in general, treated in similar fashion to myocardial infarction.  Angina is typically precipitated by exertion or emotional stress. It is exacerbated by having a full stomach and by cold temperatures. Pain may be accompanied by breathlessness, sweating, and nausea in some cases. In this case, the pulse rate and the blood pressure increases. Chest pain lasting only a few seconds is normally not angina (such as precordial catch syndrome).

Major risk factors for angina include cigarette smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle, and family history of premature heart disease. Angina is more often the presenting symptom of coronary artery disease in women than in men. The prevalence of angina rises with increasing age, with a mean age of onset of 62.3 years. All forms of coronary heart disease are much less-common in the Third World, as its risk factors are much more common in Western and Westernized countries; it could, therefore, be termed a disease of affluence. The adoption of a rich, Westernized diet and subsequent increase of smoking, obesity, and other risk factors has led to an increase in angina and related diseases in countries such as China.

ANGINA DIAGNOSIS

Angina could be found in people presenting tight, dull, or heavy chest discomfort that is: Retrosternal or left-sided, radiating to the left arm, neck, jaw, or back, associated with exertion or emotional stress and relieved within several minutes by rest, and precipitated by cold weather or a meal. Some people present with atypical symptoms, including breathlessness, nausea, or epigastric discomfort or burning. These symptoms are particularly likely in older people, women, and those with diabetes.

Anginal pain is not usually sharp or stabbing or influenced by respiration. Antacids and simple analgesics do not usually relieve the pain. If chest discomfort (of whatever site) is precipitated by exertion, relieved by rest, and relieved by glyceryl trinitrate, the likelihood of angina is increased

ANGINA TREATMENT

Treatments for angina are balloon angioplasty, in which the balloon is inserted at the end of a catheter and inflated to widen the arterial lumen. Stents to maintain the arterial widening are often used at the same time. Coronary bypass surgery involves bypassing constricted arteries with venous grafts. This is much more invasive than angioplasty. But however, the most specific medicine to treat angina is nitroglycerin. Nitroglycerin is a potent vasodilator that decreases myocardial oxygen demand by decreasing the heart's workload. Beta blockers and calcium channel blockers act to decrease the heart's workload, and thus its requirement for oxygen. Nitroglycerin should not be given if certain inhibitors such as sildenafil, tadalafil, or vardenafil have been taken within the previous 12 hours as the combination of the two could cause a serious drop in blood pressure. One of the main aim or goal of treatment in angina pectoris are relief of symptoms, slowing progression of the disease, and reduction of future events, especially heart attacks and death. 

NATURAL PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO CONTROL ANGINA

Food that lowers cholesterol: People with angina must keep their blood cholesterol under control. Cholesterol accumulates in the arteries and restricts blood flow to the heart. The normal cholesterol should be below 200 and the low density Lipoprotein (LDL) also known as the BAD cholesterol should be as low as possible. Avoid saturated fat to keep cholesterol under control. Food that lowers cholesterol includes: Oats, Barley and other whole grains, Beans, Eggplant and okra, Nuts, etc. Including fruits like Apples, grapes, strawberries, citrus fruits would also help to lower cholesterol.

Ginger Tea: Boil one table spoon of grated ginger in a cup of water. Strain it and drink this tea. A small piece of raw ginger can be taken on an empty stomach daily to prevent angina and other cardiovascular diseases

Basil Leaves: Heat a handful of basil leaves in a glass of water. Strain and cool this mixture and add some honey to it. Consume it daily 2-3 times.

Garlic: Garlic is the best cure for almost all types of heart problems. One should take 2-3 cloves of garlic daily in the morning as a preventive measure and for long term benefit. Add half tea spoon of garlic juice to a cup of hot water and drink it to fight angina.

Raw Onion: Raw onion taken liberally is helpful in bringing down the cholesterol level.

NOTE: If you must prevent Angina, you should be ready to avoid Smoking, avoid fried food and food with high cholesterol, partake in mild regular exercise and it should be a part of the daily routine, small brisk walks are also helpful.