Angina is normally defined as a feeling of chest discomfort which is exertional. Patients often describe this as a “tightness”, or “heaviness”, like someone sitting on their chest. Symptoms tend to improve or disappear at rest.

Angina is most commonly due to underlying coronary artery disease, but in certain groups of patients can also be due to microvascular dysfunction. Coronary artery disease can be managed medically in the first instance for the majority of cases, but in other cases patients may require more invasive investigations and treatment such as a coronary angiogram and angioplasty.

Making the correct diagnosis is key, and managing the risk factors for coronary disease is equally important.