Definition
Heart pain is the technical term used in medicine for angina pectoris. Literally translated, the term describes a tightness or anxiety that can be felt in the chest. Many people feel this feeling like a strong pressure on the breastbone. However, this is perceived differently by each person and can radiate into other parts of the body or be accompanied by other symptoms.
Causes
Heart pain can have many different causes. They vary greatly in their severity and do not necessarily always start from the heart. For example, heartburn, bloating of the abdomen, irritated nerves or stress and anxiety can be the trigger for heart pain.
If the cause of the heart pain is the heart itself, this is usually due to a lack of blood supply to the heart. Since the heart is a thick muscle, in some diseases this wall can no longer be completely supplied with oxygen. For the blood supply of the heart itself, there are the coronary arteries that run around the heart and supply it with oxygen and nutrients.
If these coronary arteries are calcified, this is called coronary heart disease. If the vessels are blocked or completely blocked, this is called a heart attack. In both cases, the heart is no longer sufficiently supplied with nutrients, resulting in heart pain called angina pectoris.
The insufficient supply can also be caused by other heart diseases. For example, especially in older people, deposits on the heart valves often occur, which can obstruct the flow of blood. The aortic valve is located directly in front of the junction of the coronary arteries and changes at this point can lead to a reduced blood supply to the heart. In heart disease, such as heart failure, where the heart no longer has sufficient strength to pump the blood properly, the heart muscle may become enlarged. This causes the layers of the heart muscle to become thicker until the blood supply is no longer sufficient.
