Difference Between Angina and Heart Attack

The terms 'Angina Attack' and 'Heart Attack' are both known to be very serious heart conditions which can prove to be extremely fatal if taken lightly. There are about 1.2 million cases of heart attack, and 7 million cases of angina in the United States every year. According to statistics, more than 2,500 people in the United States of America die from a heart disease everyday. Not only this, statistics also reveal that in the United States of America, a person gets a heart attack in every 20 seconds. Shocking, isn't it? Heart diseases are the number one reason for deaths in America. Therefore, educating yourself about the same should be a necessity and not a choice. As this article focuses on the difference between angina and heart attack, we shall be focusing on these two conditions, but before we do that, it is important to understand the meaning of these individual terms in detail.

What is Angina?

Angina is considered to be a symptom rather than a condition in itself. It is caused when the coronary arteries, which are responsible to supply the oxygen rich blood to the heart, narrow down due to cholesterol or fat deposits. Because the arteries are narrowed down, there is lack of blood supply due to which symptoms like pressure and squeezing pain in the chest can occur. The pain and the discomfort may stay from a few minutes to several minutes depending upon the type of angina and the severity of the condition. Because the arteries are narrowed down, angina symptoms occur only when the heart demands increased blood supply, like during some physical or emotional exertion - exercising, stressful episodes, and so on. Though an angina attack is a big discomfort, it is not as fatal as a heart attack, and the discomfort diminishes as soon as the exertion is over.

There are different types of angina, and the symptoms of each type vary from another. To have a better understanding for the same, have a look at the brief explanation about the different types of angina mentioned below.

• Stable Angina: In this type of angina, the coronary arteries of the heart are severely narrowed down due to plaque deposits. Therefore, the symptoms of stable angina emerge only when the heart is working hard to receive blood - which happens when you are physically or mentally exerting. The symptoms subside when you are at rest.
• Unstable Angina:Unlike stable angina, the symptoms of this type of angina have no pattern whatsoever, and can emerge anytime, even while you are sleeping. Experiencing an unstable angina is more painful than stable angina and is considered to be a precursor of a heart attack.
• Variant Angina: The other name for this is Prinzmetal's Angina, and this occurs due to coronary artery spasm. Like unstable angina, symptoms can occur without any exertion (usually early morning or at night). However, generally, the episode doesn't last for more than 2-5 minutes.

What is a Heart Attack?

A heart attack is a more severe condition which occurs when the arteries that carry the blood to the heart are completely blocked, mostly due to blood clots. Though the symptoms of a heart attack and angina can appear to be pretty similar, the consequences of the same can be absolutely different. While angina doesn't prove to be fatal, a heart attack can actually lead to fatal damages to the heart muscles and arteries, which can even lead to death!

How to Determine the Difference Between Angina and a Heart Attack?

As mentioned earlier, although the signs and symptoms of both these conditions, angina and heart attack, are very similar, there is a huge difference between the two. While angina can be considered as the starting point of a serious heart condition, it can be controlled by lifestyle changes and medications. On the other hand, a heart attack can prove to be immensely fatal if medical assistance is not given at the right time. Mentioned below are some key points of differences between angina and heart attack.

Difference Between Angina and Heart Attack
Angina	Heart Attack
It is a condition wherein the arteries are narrowed down, reducing the blood supply to the heart.	It is a condition wherein the arteries are completely blocked due to blood clots or fat deposits.
It is a short term or temporary blockage of the blood flow to the heart.	It is a permanent blockage of the blood flow to the heart.
Angina is a non-fatal condition, which means that there is no permanent damage to the heart muscles or arteries.	On the other hand, heart attack is a more fatal condition wherein the arteries and the heart muscles can be damaged permanently.
An angina attack usually stays from a few minutes to almost 10 minutes.	A heart attack stays for a longer period of time as compared to angina, and stays for at least 20 minutes.
Angina can be cured with medications and pain killers and the pain can vanish in some time.	Heart attack is rather a permanent condition which cannot be completely cured. The condition either stays at the same level, or becomes more worse as time passes by.
Angina attacks take place usually when the heart needs more blood supply which usually happens during exertion.	Heart attack can take place even when the person is at rest.
Angina symptoms like chest pain, sweating, nausea, squeezing, sweating, etc., can subside when at rest.	The symptoms of a heart attack are also the same, but they are milder in nature and do not respond to rest.
Angina is a warning sign to the body when the consumption of the oxygen is too high and the supply is low. It acts as a signal to the body to slow down and relax.	Heart attack ,on the other hand, is not a warning but a consequence in itself. Because even if the body is at rest, its symptoms still remain.
If you are suffering from angina, you can actually treat it with changes in lifestyle and medications.	On the other hand, untreated angina can further lead to heart attack, which cannot be treated even with lifestyle changes and medications. You should however learn to live with it, for which following a healthy lifestyle is necessary.

I am sure by going through the aforementioned key points highlighting the difference between angina and heart attack, you would have understood how both these conditions are relatively different from each other, although the symptoms are the same. Therefore, even if you feel the slightest discomfort or pain, or any other symptoms of angina, or a heart attack, you must get in touch with your healthcare specialist as soon as possible to keep a check on your heart condition. Remember, if you take precautionary steps at an early stage itself, it would definitely help you overcome the trouble of dealing with a chronic condition for the rest of your life. Have a safe and healthy tomorrow.