Types of
Angina
The
four types of angina are stable, unstable, and variant.
-
Stable angina. Stable angina, the most common,
occurs when the heart is working harder than usual.
-
Unstable angina. Unstable angina requires
emergency treatment as this type of angina is a very dangerous condition.
Unstable angina is a sign that a heart attack could occur soon.
Unstable angina does not follow a pattern. It can
occur without physical exertion. Unstable angina problem is not
relieved by rest or medicine.
-
Variant angina. Variant angina is rare. Variant
angina
usually occurs at rest and the pain can be severe.
This type of angina
usually occurs between midnight and early morning and
it can be relieved by medicine.
-
Micro vascular angina occurs when the patient
experiences chest pain but has no apparent coronary
artery blockage. This type of angina is due to the poor functioning
of the tiny blood vessels that nourish the heart, arms
and legs. Micro vascular angina can occur during exercise or at rest.
Symptoms
of Angina
You experience a pain in the centre of the chest,
which may also travel into the neck, jaw, and arms
(especially the left). Angina is usually described as a
crushing or heavy or gripping pain. Angina mostly follows
exercise, but may also be triggered by emotion,
digesting a heavy meal, or going out in a cold wind.
Sometimes angina is associated with breathlessness.
Causes
of Angina
Angina is a type of coronary artery disease. Coronary
arteries supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle.
Coronary artery disease is caused by cholesterol as it
is deposited in the artery wall. When this happens, it
causes the formation of a hard, thick substance called
cholesterol plaque. Over time, the accumulation of
cholesterol plaque causes narrowing of the coronary
arteries. When this happens, it results in
arteriosclerosis. Smoking, high blood pressure, elevated
cholesterol, and diabetes can further aggravate the
problem of arteriosclerosis. Coronary arteries can no
longer meet the increased blood oxygen demand by the
heart muscle when they become narrowed by more than 50%
to 70%. When there is lack of oxygen, the heart muscle
causes chest pain.
The
walls of the arteries are surrounded by muscle fibers. A
sudden narrowing (spasm) of the arteries results when
there is rapid contraction of these muscle fibers. When
this happens it reduces blood to the heart muscle and
causes angina.
Diagnosing an Angina
The
diagnosis of angina pectoris usually involves a careful
assessment and history of signs and symptoms. Diagnostic
procedures to exclude angina or establish the severity
of coronary heart disease include electrocardiogram (ECG
or EKG), a stress test, and coronary arteriogram (or
angiogram). The ECG records electrical impulses of the
heart which enables one to assess if the heart muscle is
not getting sufficient oxygen or if there are abnormal
features of the heart. A stress test is used to detect
coronary artery disease and to determine safe levels of
exercise. In a coronary arteriogram (or angiogram),
x-rays are taken after a contrast agent is injected into
an artery to locate the narrowing, occlusions, and other
abnormalities of specific arteries. There are a few
conditions which mimic angina. Sources of pain most
often confused with cardiac pain are gastrointestinal ,
musculoskeletal, pulmonary, and pericardial.
Treatment
of Angina
If
you think you have angina you should consult your
doctor. He/she may well prescribe some tablets to suck
under your tongue. Controlling the risk factors for
angina such as high blood pressure, cigarette smoking,
high cholesterol levels, and excess weight is an
essential part of treatment. The most common medication
used to treat people with angina are nitrates which help
alleviate pain by widening the blood vessels, thereby
allowing more blood flow to the heart muscle and
decreasing the work load of the heart. Beta blockers are also
commonly prescribed because they decrease the heart
rate, blood pressure, and myocardial oxygen consumption. Calcium channel blockers are also prescribed because they cause the blood
vessels to relax and allow blood to flow freely to the
heart, lowering blood pressure and relieving pain.
Coronary artery bypass or angioplasty might be
necessary forms of treatment if there is significant
narrowing of the coronary arteries.
Your healthcare professional may recommend herbal
formulations to treat your angina problem. It is much
safer. For long-term remedy you may want to consume
herbal formulation that can holistically treat the
following problems to prevent an angina attack:
-
Treats your cholesterol problem
-
Reduces cardiac load, lowers arterial pressure and
improves micro circulation in and around a damaged heart
-
Increases blood circulation in the heart while lowering
elevated blood pressure
-
Prevents arteriosclerosis
-
Prevents arrhythmias due to lack of oxygen in the heart
-
Protects cardiac muscle from ischemic injury
Traditional practise has used herbs like Polygonum
Multiflorum, Panax Notoginseng,
Schisandra Chinensis
and Saposhnikovia
Divaricata
for treating heart and liver problems and disease of
the circulatory system i.e. cardiovascular diseases.
Scientific
research has showed and proven beyond a shadow of
doubt the validity of these beliefs that herbs like Polygonum Multiflorum, Panax Notoginseng,
Schisandra Chinensis
and Saposhnikovia
Divaricata are truly effective for improving liver and
heart functions and they are truly longevity herbs.
Scientists have proven that these herbs can increase
red blood cell productions as well as improving the
functions of these cells
(erythrocytes).
They have been proven to have the following functions:
anti-aging, improve immune system through its
antioxidant effect, treat cholesterol problem, retard
and treat arteriosclerosis (hardening of blood
vessels) protect liver, regulate and nourish blood and
improve its circulation, anti-tumor effect, treat
breathlessness, treat cardiac insufficiency, treat
edema and hypertension.
Herbs can be used to improve the microcirculation
within the body to vitalize blood circulation to treat
cardiovascular problems as well as liver problems.
Below are pictures (from a
herbal article written by Dr. Subhuti Dharmananda,
Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine,
Portland, Oregon) of such wonderful scientific proof
that traditional herbs used to treat such diseases are
truly scientific in approach.
Therefore these herbs have traditionally been used for
treating the following cardiovascular disease problems
holistically and they have been scientifically proven
correct:
-
For treating high blood pressure
-
For treating high cholesterol
-
For
rejuvenating blood vessels (arteriosclerosis)
-
For
improving blood circulation
-
For
cold hands and feet
-
For protecting cardiac muscle from ischemic injury
(strengthen heart)
-
For increasing
red blood cells
-
For
cancer inhibitive functions (anti-tumor effect)
-
For breathlessness
-
For anti-fatigue
-
For angina
-
For cardiac insufficiency
-
For
improving immunity
Polygonum Multiflorum:
1)
Clinical research by western
scientists have
proved the
anti-arteriosclerosis, hypoglycemic properties,
anti-tumor activities and anti-hypertension functions of Polygonum Multiflorum (He Shou Wu). These research were
published in scientific papers below.
-
Chen F.C. 1987. “Recent
Status on Chemical and Pharmacological research on
Natural Hypoglycemic Drugs” Chinese Traditional Herbal
Drugs 8: 39 – 44.
-
Deng W. C. and S.R. Gong
1987 “Progress in research on He Shou Wu” (Polygonum
Multiflorum Thumb). Chinese Traditional Herbal Drugs
3:42 – 46 .
-
Jiang J.W. 1984
“Achievements in new drugs development from Chinese
Herbal Drugs during a 35 year period since the
establishment of the Peoples’ Republic”. Chinese
Traditional Herbal Drugs 10:1 – 10, 19.
-
Li C.L., 1982 “Research
Status on anti-tumor drugs of Plant Origin”. Chinese
Pharma Bulletin 2: 19 – 23.
-
Song X.P., P.P Chen and
X. S. Chai 1988. “Effects of puerarin on blood
pressure and plasma renin activity in spontaneous
hypertensive rating”. Acta Pharmacol. Sin. 1:55 – 58
(English abstract)
-
Wang W and H. D Jin 1984.
“Effect of alcoholic extract of prepared Radix
Polygonum Multiflorum on preventing arteriosclerosis
in Japanese quail”
2)
Clinical research by western scientists have shown
that
Polygonum Multiflorum
increases high-density lipoprotein
(HDL) cholesterol, reduce total cholesterol, free
cholesterol, triglycerides, retard atherosclerosis,
protect the heart, strengthen the membranes of
erythrocytes (red blood cells) and has
powerful natural antioxidant
and free radical scavenger and these have powerful
anti-aging benefits in humans.
Foster
3)
Clinical research by western scientists have shown
that the extract of the root of Polygonum multiflorum
exhibited a significant antioxidant activity. Research
have shown a stilbene glucoside,
(E)-2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside
(1) as the active constituent responsible for the
antioxidant property.
33196
Panax Notoginseng:
1)
Clinical research by western scientists have shown
that Panax Notoginseng has anti-inflammatory,
analgesic (reduces pain) and
immunomodulatory action.
44000
2)
Clinical research by western scientists has shown that
Panax Notoginseng
increasing the resistance to
anoxia (a region of the body where there is complete
deprivation of oxygen supply),
increase
blood circulation in the heart and brain while lowering
elevated blood pressure.
18584
3)
Clinical research by western scientists have shown
that
Panax Notoginseng reduces
thrombogenicity (blood clot) and arrhythmias (improves
blood and heart function), increases erythrocyte
deformability
(causes
the ability erythrocytes cells to change shape as they
pass through narrow spaces, such as the microvasculature
i.e. improves blood flow),
is an antioxidant, which can counteract free radical
damage associated with atherogenesis and myocardial
damage seen with ischemia (reduce blood supply) and
reperfusion (damage to tissue caused when blood supply
returns to the tissue after a period of ischemia).
66054
4)
Several studies have shown that notoginsenoides
lower
elevated blood lipids
(cholesterol). Studies have shown that notoginsenoides
improve diastolic function in hypertensive subjects,
induce the fibrinolytic system in in vitro models and
act as antiproliferative agents on vessel leiomyocytes.
01683
5)
Clinical research by western scientists has shown
that
Panax Notoginseng
may prevent atherosclerosis and
inhibit progression of the atherosclerotic lesions by
interfering with the proliferation of arterial smooth
muscle cell.
49623
6)
Clinical research by western scientists have shown
that
ginsenosides Rg1 from Panax
Notoginseng has estrogen-like activity and should be
classified as a novel class of potent phytoestrogen.
Ginsenosides have demonstrated
pharmacological effects in the central nervous,
cardiovascular, and endocrine systems.
61497
7)
Clinical research by western scientists have shown
that Panax Notoginseng has anti-inflammatory effect.
78152
8)
Clinical research by western scientists have shown that
Panax Notoginseng
reduce
cell damage after heart attack and protect nerve and
brain cells from the damage of stroke.
Panax Notoginseng improves energy metabolism and
preserves the structural integrity of neurons (restore
and prevent nerves damage).
01752
Schisandra Chinensis:
1)
Clinical research by western scientists confirmed
that
Schisandra Chinensis
protects the heart against
myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (damage to the heart
tissue caused by reduced blood supply) injury.
48914
2)
Clinical research by western scientists confirmed
that
Schisandra Chinensis
protects the heart
mitochondrial toxicity.
57000
3)
Clinical research by western scientists confirmed
that
Schisandra Chinensis
have protective
effect against oxygen radical induced mitochondrial
toxicity on rat heart and liver
and is a potent antioxidant activities.
It was found that Schisanhenol
from
Schisandra Chinensis strengthen the heart.
86468
4)
Clinical research by western scientists
from
Slovakia confirmed the validity of the historical use of
the drug, in particular as an adaptogenic and antioxidative agent.
75889
5)
Clinical research by western scientists
confirmed the validity of the historical use of
Schisandra Chinensis,
in particular as a hepatoprotective, adaptogenic, and
antioxidative agent by
maintaining plasma membrane stability of hepatocytes
under oxidative stress.
42110
6)
Clinical research by western scientists confirmed
that
Schisandra Chinensis
possessed scavenging properties
and reduces lipid peroxidation.
60352
7)
Clinical research by western scientists confirmed
that
Schisandra Chinensis
possessed scavenging properties.
72101
8)
Clinical research by western scientists confirmed
that
Schisandra Chinensis
possessed scavenging properties
and it is more potent than that of vitamin E.
66655
Angina usually lasts no longer than ten minutes, and if
you get it you should stop what you are doing and take
one of the tablets or a puff of the spray under your
tongue. If an activity always seems to bring it on then
it is wise to take the treatment before you start. If
you are suffering frequently you should consult your
healthcare professional as he will probably wish to
consider holistic treatment which will involve consuming
appropriate medication that would provide a long-term
permanent solution.
Prevention
