Do you have chest pain and discomfort that you can describe as squeezing, pressure, heaviness, tightness or perhaps sharp, stabbing pain, especially if you are a woman?
Does the pain spread to your left arm, neck, jaw, shoulder or back?
Do you have pain in your lower chest or belly (similar to indigestion)?
Does your pain last for a short time, maybe five minutes or less?
Is your pain triggered by physical exertion (such as climbing the stairs, exercise or walking uphill), emotional stress or cold weather?
Does your pain get worse with activity, breathing or body movement?
Does the pain go away by resting, taking a deep breath or sitting down?
Do you have other symptoms in addition to the pain, such as nausea or dizziness?
During this episode of pain did you have any of the following symptoms: shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, profuse sweating or anxiety?
Are you a man over 45 or a woman over 55?
Are you a smoker?
Are you overweight?
Do you have too much stress in your life?
Do you have an inactive lifestyle with lack of exercise?
Do you have a diagnosis of diabetes, high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol or triglyceride levels?
Do you have a family history of heart disease?
Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have angina pectoris.
Based on your answer there is a possibility that you have angina. There are some types of chest pain that can mimic angina. Even though angina is a fairly common condition, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish angina from other types of chest pain, such as discomfort caused by indigestion (e.g. heartburn) based on symptoms alone. So if you experience unexplained chest pain, seek medical attention immediately.
Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have angina pectoris. Angina is a symptom of coronary artery disease and this type of chest pain signals that your heart is not getting enough blood. The severity, duration and type of angina can be diverse so it is important to see your doctor as soon as possible for evaluation of your symptoms.
• Mayo Clinic Staff. (2016). Angina: Definition.
mayoclinic.com/health/angina/DS00994
• What is angina? (2011).
nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/angina/
jelena mihajlovic
Hi! I’m Jelena Radovanovic. After earning my Phd in General Medicine from the Medical University of Nis, I began a career as a physician in order to pursue my passion for medical science and help treat the people around me. I joined the Medical Center in Nis in 2010 where I gained practical knowledge in real-time situations. In addition to my primary job as a General Practitioner, I’ve worked with nonprofits to help underprivileged patients by providing them with information, services, and assistance.
You can find me on Upwork at: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01d0ef3a1f3aa93918
