Is angina a serious heart condition?

Angina is chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscles. It’s not usually life threatening, but it’s a warning sign that you could be at risk of a heart attack or stroke. With treatment and healthy lifestyle changes, it’s possible to control angina and reduce the risk of these more serious problems.

Does angina shorten your life?

Can you die from angina? No, because angina is a symptom, not a disease or condition. However, this symptom is a sign of coronary artery disease, which means you may be at increased risk of a heart attack — and heart attacks can be life-threatening.

What are the long term effects of angina?

Conclusions. Angina in middle age substantially increases the risk of death, myocardial infarction, heart failure and other cardiovascular events.

Does unstable angina damage the heart?

If left untreated, unstable angina can lead to heart attack, heart failure, or arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms). These can be life-threatening conditions.

How long can a person with angina live?

Usually, angina becomes more stable within eight weeks. In fact, people who are treated for unstable angina can live productive lives for many years. Coronary artery disease can be very difficult to deal with emotionally.

When does angina get worse?

Unstable angina should be treated as an emergency. If you have new, worsening or persistent chest discomfort, you need to go to the ER. You could be having a heart attack which puts you at increased risk for severe cardiac arrhythmias or cardiac arrest, which could lead to sudden death.

Can angina be cured?

What type of treatment you are offered will depend on how severe your angina is. Though there is no cure for coronary heart disease or way to remove the atheroma that has built up in the arteries, treatments and changes to your lifestyle can help to prevent your condition and your symptoms from getting worse.