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When a person has high cholesterol, smokes, has diabetes or other discussed risk factors, atherosclerotic plaques develop. When a sufficient degree of narrowing has occurred, a person will experience symptoms with a certain level of exertion. Angina occurs when the heart has an increased demand for oxygen without the adequate oxygen supply.
For example, every time John climbs two flights of stairs he gets chest tightness. He is fine if he avoids stairs or climbs only one flight but at two flights, the degree of oxygen demanded by his heart muscle cannot be met by his diseased coronary arteries so he gets chest pain. This is considered stable angina. John may go on for years avoiding stairs, taking the elevator and in general, exerting himself to a lesser degree. |
