How do I know that I am experiencing angina and not a heart attack?
Angina is usually brief in duration, less severe in intensity, and subsides with rest or with nitroglycerin. In contrast, the chest pain of a heart attack is severe and unrelenting. It may be associated with difficulty in breathing, sweating, light-headedness, and a sensation of doom. When you are doubtful about whether it is a heart attack or angina you are experiencing, seek medical advice immediately.
What should I do if I have angina?
Stop whatever activity has brought on the angina. Sit down and take a rest. If you have a known history of coronary artery disease and your doctor has prescribed sublingual nitroglycerin, take the medication as directed by your doctor.
If you've never experienced these symptoms before, make an appointment to see a physician. If you are uncertain if it is urgent that you see a doctor, speak with your family physician or one of the office nurses. For more severe pain or pain that persists, call an emergency medical service without delay. It is probably best to start with your primary care physician because many causes of chest pain are unrelated to the heart.
What if the angina persists?
If the angina doesn't subside with rest or with several sublingual nitroglycerin tablets, you should treat this as an emergency and call an emergency service for help.
