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To get to the bottom of your chest pain, your doctor will begin by taking a family history, asking about your symptoms, and doing a physical exam.
At Dignity Health, your cardiologist may also use a combination of the following to diagnose angina and identify its cause:
Doctors relieve the pain that accompanies angina by treating its source, which is usually heart disease. Your treatment for angina may include a combination of medications, procedures, or lifestyle changes.
Lifestyle changes, such as increasing regular exercise, changing your diet, and stopping smoking, are often the most critical steps that you can take to reduce your risk of developing or exacerbating heart disease.
When lifestyle changes are not sufficient, your doctor may turn to medications or procedures.
Medications are usually used to treat angina when lifestyle changes alone are not sufficient. They are used to lower blood pressure, prevent blood clots, and expand the blood vessels. Medications that you may be prescribed include:
You will work with your doctor to determine which medication(s) will work best for your specific condition.
In some cases, angina will require a medical procedure to treat it. Some of the procedures Dignity Health doctors perform to treat angina include:
Angina is not the same as a heart attack, but it is a sign that you could be at high risk of having a heart attack in the future.
After being evaluated for angina, your doctor will work with you to come up with a plan to prevent future episodes and address underlying conditions with medication or other treatments.
You can also work with your doctor on a plan for lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise to keep your heart healthy and manage your symptoms.
Lifestyle changes, medication, and careful monitoring can help you live a heart-healthy life in which your angina is controlled, stable, predictable, or symptom-free.
Some women with angina have different experiences than the classic angina symptoms common in men. This can lead to delays in treatment.
Some of the symptoms of angina that are more common in women include:
If you think that you may be experiencing angina, talk with your cardiologist to get to the bottom of your discomfort and back doing the activities you love.
The information contained in this article is meant for educational purposes only and should not replace advice from your healthcare provider.