When a physician first diagnoses you or a loved one with heart
disease, you may feel overwhelmed and have a lot of questions.
You may be confused by terms your doctor uses like “congestive,”
“pulmonary,” or “cyanotic.” What’s the difference? Heart disease
is heart disease, right? All types of heart disease share common
traits, but they also have key differences that may determine
their progression and treatment. Becoming familiar with the type
of heart disease you face can help you and your loved ones to
better understand it and feel more in control of your next
steps. Angina causes pain or tightness in the chest area,
creating a sort of “squeezing” sensation that sometimes
resembles indigestion. This condition is not a disease in
itself. It’s most often a symptom of coronary heart disease, in
which the arteries supplying blood to the heart narrow and
stiffen. Angina can also signify coronary microvascular disease,
which is heart disease affecting smaller coronary arteries.
There are various types of angina,