Angina (pronounced ANN-juh-nuh or ann-JIE-nuh) is pain in the chest that comes on with exercise, stress, or other things that make the heart work harder. It is an extremely common symptom of coronary artery disease, which is caused by cholesterol-clogged coronary arteries. This is the network of arteries that nourish the heart muscle.

Heart disease isn't the only cause of chest pain. Others include tension in the muscles of the chest, heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux), pericarditis, and pleurisy. So, it's important to be able to tell the difference between angina and other types of chest pain because they are treated differently and have different long-term effects on health. Knowing that your chest pain is not angina can be very reassuring.

Symptoms

Angina tends to appear during physical activity, emotional stress, or exposure to cold temperatures, or after big meals. Symptoms of angina include:

pressure, aching, or burning in the middle of the chest
pressure, aching, or burning in the neck, jaw, and shoulders (usually the left shoulder) and even down the arm
a sense of anxiety or uneasiness