What Causes Angina Sometimes?
Mar 17, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Kou Linlin
Introduction
Causes of angina pectoris:
1. Excessive physical exertion: Overexertion is one of the triggers of angina. Classic exertional angina typically occurs after prolonged strenuous labor, overnight overtime work, or intense physical activity.
2. Emotional stress: Intense emotions—such as excessive excitement, grief, or fear—can activate the sympathetic nervous system and precipitate angina.
Angina pectoris is a clinical syndrome characterized by episodic chest pain or discomfort, resulting from inadequate coronary artery blood supply and consequent acute, transient myocardial ischemia and hypoxia. So, what are the potential causes of angina? Let’s explore them below.
Common Triggers of Angina Pectoris
1. Excessive physical exertion: Overexertion is one of the primary triggers of angina. Classic exertional angina commonly occurs following prolonged strenuous labor, overnight overtime work, or intense physical activity.
2. Emotional stress: Intense emotional states—such as excessive excitement, grief, or fear—can activate the sympathetic nervous system. This leads to tachycardia and elevated blood pressure, thereby increasing myocardial oxygen demand. Simultaneously, it may provoke coronary artery spasm, precipitating angina.
3. Overeating: Consuming large meals increases oxygen demand in the gastrointestinal tract and digestive system, thereby imposing additional workload on the heart and potentially triggering angina.
4. Inadequate fluid intake: Dehydration leading to hemoconcentration can also frequently provoke angina.
5. Arrhythmias: Cardiac arrhythmias may induce coronary artery spasm, sudden vascular occlusion, and subsequent myocardial ischemia, resulting in angina.
6. Unhealthy habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption: These behaviors can trigger angina episodes.
If angina symptoms persist for more than 30 minutes without significant relief, the patient should seek immediate emergency medical care, as this may indicate an impending myocardial infarction.
Patients are advised to limit intake of foods high in saturated fats—for example, fatty meats, fried foods, grilled/barbecued items, and organ meats. Instead, they should increase consumption of dietary fiber–rich foods, such as whole wheat, corn, carrots, and black rice. Dietary fiber helps effectively regulate lipid metabolism and lower serum lipid levels.
We hope the above information is helpful to you.
