The Main Differences Between Angina Attacks & Heart Attacks

What Causes Angina Pain?

Angina is usually related to heart disease and occurs when plaque, a fatty substance, builds up within the arteries, blocking blood flow to the heart muscle, resulting in the heart working harder and with less oxygen. This is what causes the chest pain many individuals feel when living with angina. Blood clots in the arteries of the heart can also cause angina, however, blood clots in the heart usually lead to a heart attack. This is one of the major differences between both conditions. Other causes of angina and chest pain include a pulmonary embolism, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, aortic stenosis, pericarditis, and aortic dissection.

Next, discover what causes a heart attack to occur.