Angina subsides with more exercise

[bizzy55]

I have had fairly mild angina symptoms since last year. I get them about 5 minutes into walking in cool air.

I have noticed that if I stop for about 20 seconds, take a few deep breaths and then continue walking the symptoms subside and disappear after about 15 minutes.

Has anyone else had this experience? I feels like I need to be "warmed up" to eliminate the symptoms.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

Yes. I found exactly the same. A warm up gets your arteries ready for work. Cardio trainers also recommend warming down after exercise.

[Etzel]

I quote from the BHF page

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo....

When you are cold, blood vessels narrow in your skin and fingers and toes, so that less heat is lost. But this narrowing (called ‘vasoconstriction’) creates more pressure in the rest of the circulation, meaning the heart has to work harder to pump blood around the body, increasing heart rate and blood pressure. This is a normal response to the cold, but the extra strain can lead to heart symptoms for people who have an existing condition, especially during exercise.

Both of my hospitalisations occurred on very cold days, i've had to change from being the person that walks around in the snow in a t-shirt to the one who wears a scarf and bodywarmer.

[bizzy55 in reply to Etzel]

Thanks Etzel. This makes me wonder if increasing blood pressure tablet strength might help.