Angina

           Angina is pain, “discomfort,” or pressure localized in the chest that is caused by an insufficient supply of blood (isch­emia) to the heart muscle. It is also sometimes characterized by a feeling of choking, suffocation, or crushing heaviness. This condition is also called angina pectoris. Often described as a muscle spasm and choking sensation, the term “angina” is used primarily to describe chest (thoracic) pain originating from insufficient oxygen to the heart muscle. An episode of angina is not an actual heart attack, but rather pain that results from the heart muscle temporarily receiving too little blood. This temporary condition may be the result of demanding activi­ties such as exercise and does not necessarily indicate that the heart muscle is experiencing permanent damage. In fact, episodes of angina seldom cause permanent damage to heart muscle. Angina can be subdivided further into two categories: angina of effort and variant angina..