Angina is a type of atherosclerosis that occurs when atherosclerotic plaque accumulates in the arteries leading to heart muscle. This plaque progressively narrows and ultimately blocks the blood vessels (coronary arteries) that supply the heart, leading to a significant reduction in the amount of blood and oxygen that reach the heart. The main symptom of agnina is pain in the chest that radiates to the back of the neck, the left shoulder blade, left arm or jaw. The pain associated with angina typically lasts for one to twenty minutes.
Other cardiovascular diseases can be the underlying cause of angina. For example, atheroscerosis prevents adequate supplies of oxygen from reaching the heart. Angina can also occur as one of the manifestations of congestive heart failure.
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