What is the difference between a heart attack and angina?
While a heart attack and angina can look very similar with having some of the same symptoms, they are different.
Angina attacks is when there is a reduced blood flow to the heart muscles due to a narrowing in the arteries. This can be alleviated by medication or rest if the condition is not advance or unstable (poorly managed).
An unstable angina event in a patient with an advanced condition IS a heart attack as the narrowing has now reach a stage of collapse or breach (tearing open). This leads to no supply of blood: a heart attack.
Without diagnosis by a medical professional someone cannot be said to have angina. People should consult with a medical professional for investigation if they experience chest pain or discomfort, which may feel like pressure, squeezing, or a burning sensation which eases when they rest.
One thing that can help an angina attack if someone is prescribed GTN spray, when sprayed under the tongue, it relaxes and widens blood vessels, which increases blood flow to the heart.
A heart attack is where the is a block in the arteries meaning there is NO blood flow to the heart, this is usually because of a blood clot. A lack of blood to the heart may seriously damage the heart muscle and can be life threatening. While the most common symptom is chest pain, symptoms can vary from person to person. Some people may have other symptoms such as shortness of breath, feeling or being sick and back or jaw pain without any chest pain.
Call 999 immediately if you think someone might be having a heart attack. The faster you act, the better their chances of survival.
While waiting for an ambulance, it may help to chew and then swallow a tablet of aspirin (ideally 300mg), if the person having a heart attack is not allergic to aspirin. Aspirin helps to thin the blood and improves blood flow to the heart.
In either one of these cases, you should call 999!
