Angina is characterized as a heavy, tight pain in the chest area, usually after some type of exertion. The pain usually recedes with rest (Balch & Balch, 1997, p. 187).
"If the coronary arteries that carry oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle become obstructed, the flow of blood is cut off completely, and a heart attack, or myocardial infarction, can occur, resulting in damage to the heart muscle. Arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, and the presence of a thrombus, or clot, in a blood vessel are the most common causes of obstruction. Arteriosclerosis is responsible for most of the deaths resulting from heart attacks. Spasms of the coronary arteries can also result in a heart attack. A heart attack may feel as if someone is applying intense pressure to the chest. This pain may last for several minutes, often extending to the shoulder, arms, neck, or jaw. Other signs of heart attack include sweating, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, feelings of anxiety, difficulty swallowing, sudden ringing in the ears, and loss of speech. The amount and type of chest pain vary from one person to another. Some people have intense pain, while others feel only mild discomfort. Many mistake the signs of a heart attack for indigestion. Some people have no symptoms at all, a situation referred to as "silent- heart attack- (Balch & Balch, 1997).
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (HYPERTENSION).
High blood pressure increases your risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Though other risk factors can lead to high blood pressure, a person could have it without having other risk factors. If an individual is obese, smoke or have high blood cholesterol levels along with high blood pressure, the risk of heart disease or stroke greatly increases. Blood pressure can vary with activity and with age, but a healthy adult who is resting generally has a systolic pressure reading between 120 and 130 and a diastolic pressure reading between 80 and 90 (or below) (Heart Disease Risk Factors, 2003).
