Caused by narrowed or blocked coronary arteries, angina signals that the heart muscle is not receiving an adequate blood and oxygen supply. When narrowed or blocked arteries restrict this blood flow, the oxygen supply to portions of the heart may be insufficient, causing angina pectoris.

Most angina patients complain of chest discomfort caused by everyday activities, such as walking, lifting packages or working around the house. This discomfort can include shortness of breath, fatigue, indigestion or faintness, as well as pain in the chest, arm, neck or jaw. Angina restricts activity for many patients, and for some people, it can be a disabling condition that interferes with their ability to work or engage in nearly any activity.

Traditionally, angina has been treated in several ways:

1. Medication -- Several medications can help angina sufferers, however medication may become ineffective over time.

2. Angioplasty/Stents -- An invasive surgical procedure in which a hollow catheter tube is inserted through a major artery and into a blocked vessel. A small balloon tip at the top of the catheter is inflated alongside the vessel's obstructions (typically plaque deposits), flattening them against the vessel's wall and restoring blood flow. This procedure may need to be repeated for patients whose arteries become re-obstructed; a condition called restenosis. Restenosis occurs after approximately 20 to 30 percent of angioplasty procedures. Stents have reduced this significantly, but restenosis still happens in many patients.

3. Coronary Artery Bypass Graft ("Open Heart") Surgery -- During this surgical procedure, blood vessels from another part of the body (usually the leg or chest wall) are harvested or rerouted for grafting to diseased arteries, thus creating pathways around blocked sections of heart vessels. Some patients need to undergo this surgery more than once.

4. Transmyocardial Revascularization (TMR) -- Administered in the operating room, this procedure uses laser technology to create new pathways in the heart muscle. Using short bursts of laser energy, surgeons make small channels in the left heart muscle. The channels fill with oxygen-rich blood and scientific studies suggest that TMR stimulates the growth of new blood vessels, thus providing the necessary oxygen that can lead to less chest pain.

For more patient-focused health information on these procedures, please click on this link to Ohio Valley HeartCare's website.

The Angina Center of Evansville…The Next Wave of Angina Therapy.