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 2 flights of stairs he gets chest tightness. He is fine if he avoids stairs or climbs only 1 flight but at 2 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 to be a stable angina. John may go on for years avoiding stairs, taking the elevator and, in general, exerting himself to a lesser degree. | | | | | |
