What is angina?

What is angina?

Angina pectoris, or angina, is chest pain. It happens due to a painful tightening of the heart muscle. It occurs when your heart needs more oxygen-rich blood than the body can supply. Angina isn’t a condition. It’s a warning sign of heart disease.

Unstable angina is a type of angina that causes sudden, unexpected chest pain. It can indicate a heart attack and requires emergency care. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you feel sudden chest pain.