Angina symptoms you experienced - British Heart Fou...

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Angina symptoms you experienced

July18 profile image
13 Replies

Hi guys,

What kind of symptoms did you experience before being diagnosed with your angina.

I know the biggest symptom is onset of chest pain. What I’d like to ask is:

Was the pain sharp or stabbing in nature, or a tightness etc?

Did the pain come on randomly, or predictably?

Also how long did the pain last for, did your pain last for minutes or a few seconds?

Cheers.

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July18 profile image
July18
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13 Replies
MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

Mine started with breathlessness accompanied by pressure mid-chest. This came on after exertion and could last typically from 5 - 20 minutes. The amount of exertion got less over time but I only needed paramedics on one occasion. This was two weeks before surgery and I suspect it was becoming unstable.

I am sure others will be along and describe different symptoms particularly in regard to the pain.

young85 profile image
young85 in reply toMichaelJH

Thank you for your reply. When you said your symptoms came on after exertion, do you mean when you had finished doing your exercise, or during it? Sorry if I sound blonde!

young85 profile image
young85 in reply toyoung85

Also how long was you exerting yourself to start with before it started to come on?

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply toyoung85

We are all different. In the weeks before my bypass it was only a few minutes. Speed of onset depends on the individual and degree of blockage. It originally came on after about 10 minutes walking but got worse. However, I had been on another drug with anti-anginal properties that probably hid the issue until it was stopped a short while previously!

Plum53 profile image
Plum53

Hi I had two episodes one was a tightness across my neck ( I was walking up slight incline both times) the second a few days later was an intense ache in the middle if my chest . Both lasted a few mins. Went when I stopped walking and sat down . I have had one other strange high tummy ache which I sat down and used Gnt spray just incase it lasted apx. two mins. Not sure if heart related or not but never had that before or since. I had been pushing Granddaughter in pushchair at the time. Hope that helps

Lynne1a profile image
Lynne1a

My initial symptoms were extreme shortness of breath when going up inclines, I thought it was my asthma, then I was waking in middle of night with central chest pain, got up to get gaviscon thought it was indigestion, I also suffered extreme exhaustion thought it was stress due to house move and problems in the buIlding work in house. My pain could often be sharp stabbing at random as well as dull in central chest, I was diagnosed with hereditary unstable angina and had emergency admission and two stents fitted on 1st December. Take care and good luck.

young85 profile image
young85 in reply toLynne1a

How long did the stabbing pains last for each time, were they seconds or was it for long periods?

Also how long did your dull chest pain last for normally?

Lynne1a profile image
Lynne1a

The stabbing pains were short bursts seconds, the chest pain which I thought was indigestion came on for a while

Manhattan1 profile image
Manhattan1

usually noticed it more going up any kind of incline.. tight chest pain , breathless and pain radiating through to my back.. sometimes also cold clammy sweat and pain going into my jaw similar to toothache.. worst ever was once at rest which lasted about 10 mins .. but after 2 sprays of gtn it subsided..

young85 profile image
young85 in reply toManhattan1

How long has you been exerting yourself before the symptoms normally came on?

Manhattan1 profile image
Manhattan1 in reply toyoung85

within a few minutes

Ginger1971 profile image
Ginger1971

My symptoms were so mild I had been having the odd one here and there over 3 or so years. Last straw, as silly as it sounds, was breathing cold air on a frosty morning. Just felt uncomfortable. Being a smoker a put the discomfort in my lungs as it was during breathing. Thought it might be cancer, but google said Angina and the doctor said I was lucky to be here!! I couldn’t call it pain, just annoying and uncomfortable.

Beekite profile image
Beekite

Got to be honest I never had “pain” at all. I had pressure feeling and then like a release of that and a flushing feeling, nausea and pins and needles in left lower arm and wrist. Never considered it being my heart but was diagnosed with unstable angina and was expected to need a triple bypass. Thankfully an amazing cardiologist managed to stent and 18 months on all good so far. But like most people on here I still worry about every twinge and ache as it’s never cured as such

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