Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Causes of Angina

Angina occurs when arteriosclerosis has caused so much narrowing of the coronary arteries that they are not able to supply enough blood to the heart muscle during exercise.

In most cases angina doesn’t occur while you’re at rest. But the stronger or more prolonged the exertion, the greater is the amount of blood that the heart needs.

Healthy coronary arteries can pass enough blood to allow the heart to reach its maximum output without pain. But narrowing of the coronary arteries will always mean that there is a limit to the rate at which blood can get to the heart muscle, in spite of its needs.

Angina symptoms develop when the heart demands more oxygen than can be supplied or when the supply drops below demand.

• AbortionAbscessAccident and emergency departmentsAccidents and first aidAccidents to children in the homeAcneAcoustic neuromaActinomycosisAcupunctureAddictionsAddison's diseaseAdenoids and adenoidectomyAgoraphobiaAir embolismAlcohol misuseAllergiesAltitude sicknessAlzheimer's diseaseAmbulance ServiceAmniocentesisAmniotomyAmoebiasisAnaemiaAnaesthesiaAnaesthetic, generalAnaesthetic, localAnal fissureAnal fistulaAnaphylaxisAndrogen insensitivity syndromeAneurysmAnginaAngioedemaAngiographyAnkylosing spondylitisAnorexia nervosaAntacid drugsAntenatal careAntenatal screeningAnti-inflammatories, non-steroidalAnticoagulant drugsAntidepressant drugsAntifungal drugsAntihistamine drugsAnxietyAphasiaApnoeaAppendicitisArthritisArthroscopyArtificial inseminationAsbestosisAspergillosisAsthmaAstigmatismAtherosclerosisAthlete's footAtrial fibrillationAttention deficit hyperactivity disorderAutism

  ---