Angina is the chest pain or discomfort that happens when part of your heart muscle is not getting enough oxygen-rich blood. It may feel similar to pressure or a squeezing sensation in your chest. This pain can also spread to your shoulders, arms, back, jaws, and neck. Many people say it feels like really bad indigestion.

The most common type of heart pain is called stable. It happens when the heart is working harder than it normally does. There is a regular pattern to this type of heart pain. If you have been diagnosed with this type of pain, you can be taught to recognize the pattern, therefore, being able to predict when you will have this pain. This is a pain that generally goes away shortly after you take medication or rest. While stable angina is not a heart attack, it does make it more likely that you will have one in the future.

The next type of heart pain is called unstable. It does not follow any pattern because it can happen whether there is physical activity or not. It is also not relieved by medication or rest. This type of heart pain is quite serious and needs immediate emergency treatment. It is telling you that a heart attack may soon be on its way.

The final type of heart pain is called variant and is rare. It typically hits you while you are resting between the hours of midnight and early morning. Variant angina can cause severe pain. There is no medication to help this type of heart pain.

There are millions of people all over the world who suffer from heart pain and more develop it each year. It happens in both men and women equally and can be a sign of heart disease even if the first tests don’t support that. Other things that can cause chest pain include lung problems, a panic attack, heartburn, and, of course, a heart attack. Whatever yours may be coming from, you should have any chest pain check by a doctor.