Cardiologist Serving Katy, Sugar Land, Greater Houston
Cardiologist Serving Katy, Sugar Land, Greater Houston
Angina is chest pain or discomfort that happens when the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen-rich blood. It often feels like pressure, squeezing, heaviness or tightness in the chest. The discomfort may also be felt in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, upper abdomen or back. Some people, especially women, older adults and people with diabetes, notice mainly shortness of breath, unusual fatigue, nausea or indigestion-like discomfort instead.
Angina is a symptom, not a disease in itself. It is a signal that the heart’s blood supply cannot keep up with its needs, and it deserves a careful evaluation.
Dr. Khalid reviews your symptoms, history and test results himself
Visits in Katy and Sugar Land
Catheter and device procedures at an affiliated hospital
Office follow-up on medicines and risk factors
Call 911 if you have chest discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back; chest discomfort at rest or that is new, more frequent or comes on with less effort than usual; or chest discomfort with shortness of breath, a cold sweat, nausea, lightheadedness, or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach. Do not judge by how severe the pain feels, do not drive yourself, and do not wait for an office appointment. If you have been prescribed nitroglycerin, use it exactly as your care team instructed, and call 911 if the discomfort is not improving as they told you to expect.
In many cases, angina is a sign of coronary artery disease. In this condition, plaque made of cholesterol and other material builds up in the arteries that supply the heart, narrowing them and reducing blood flow. When the heart muscle works harder, for example during exercise or stress, it needs more oxygen than the narrowed arteries can deliver, and chest discomfort can result.
Remember, not all chest pain is angina. Acid reflux, muscle strain, lung problems and anxiety can also cause chest discomfort, and these causes cannot be reliably told apart at home. Always seek medical attention for new or unexplained chest pain. For an overview of other causes, see chest pain evaluation.
The most common cause is coronary artery disease. Risk factors include high LDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, excess weight, physical inactivity, older age, chronic kidney disease and a family history of early heart disease. Less often, angina is linked to heart valve narrowing (aortic stenosis), a thickened heart muscle, severe anemia, a very fast heart rhythm or an overactive thyroid, all of which raise the heart’s oxygen needs or reduce supply.
It can. Women are more likely than men to describe angina as shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, or discomfort in the back, jaw or upper abdomen rather than classic chest pressure. Women are also more likely to have microvascular or vasospastic angina, in which the large heart arteries may look normal on standard tests. Symptoms that are real but unexplained by early testing deserve continued, careful evaluation with your cardiologist, not dismissal. The same 911 warning signs apply to everyone.
Schedule an evaluation if you have chest discomfort, pressure or unusual breathlessness that comes on with activity and settles with rest, if your doctor suspects angina, or if a test such as an EKG or stress test was abnormal. People already diagnosed with angina should also be seen if their usual pattern changes. Remember that a change in pattern, such as pain at rest or with less effort, needs emergency care first.
Evaluation at Advanced Cardiology begins with a detailed conversation about your symptoms: what the discomfort feels like, what brings it on, how long it lasts and what relieves it. Dr. Khalid reviews your medical history, risk factors and medicines and performs a physical examination. Based on this, he may recommend one or more tests. Each test answers a different question, and none is perfect:
Echocardiograms, stress tests and imaging are performed or arranged by our office, and hospital procedures are scheduled at an affiliated hospital. Dr. Khalid explains your results and what they mean for your treatment.
Treatment aims to relieve symptoms, lower the risk of heart attack and help you stay active. Most plans combine several approaches:
If you already have angina, learn what triggers your symptoms and work with your care team on a written action plan: what to do when symptoms start, how and when to use prescribed nitroglycerin, and when to call 911. Warm up before exercise, avoid heavy exertion right after large meals, and dress warmly in cold weather. Keep a simple symptom diary and bring it to your visits, because changes in your pattern help guide treatment.
If you do not have angina, preventing coronary artery disease may reduce your chance of developing it. Follow a healthy diet, stay active, avoid tobacco, manage your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar, and maintain a healthy weight.
At our Katy and Sugar Land offices, Dr. Khalid evaluates your symptoms, orders and interprets testing, adjusts medicines and follows you over time. When a hospital procedure is needed, it is scheduled at an affiliated hospital, and our office explains where to go and how to prepare. He also communicates with your primary care doctor and other specialists so your care stays coordinated.
A few notes can make your visit more productive. Before your appointment, write down:
Bring copies of recent EKGs, stress tests, imaging, hospital discharge papers and lab results if they were done elsewhere. New patients can complete registration forms in advance through our patient portal. Our office accepts most major insurance plans and verifies coverage individually.
After your evaluation, follow-up visits are scheduled based on your diagnosis and treatment. At these visits, Dr. Khalid reviews how often symptoms occur, whether medicines are working and well tolerated, and how your cholesterol, blood pressure and other risk factors are responding. If symptoms change between visits, call the office; if they become more frequent, last longer, occur at rest or come with other warning signs, call 911.
Is angina the same as a heart attack? No. Angina is a warning sign of reduced blood flow, while a heart attack means heart muscle is being damaged. Unstable angina and heart attack can look alike, so new, worsening or prolonged chest discomfort needs a 911 call.
Can angina go away? Symptoms often improve with treatment, but the underlying coronary artery disease usually needs lifelong attention to risk factors and regular follow-up.
Can I exercise with angina? Many people can and should stay active, but ask your care team what level of activity is safe for you before starting a new program.
How do I schedule a visit? Call (713) 258-6111 or request an appointment. Office messages and online requests are not for emergencies.
Sources: NHLBI: Coronary Heart Disease; American Heart Association: Warning Signs of a Heart Attack; MedlinePlus: Chest Pain; NHLBI: Heart Tests.
Katy & Sugar Land Cardiologist
Advanced Cardiology welcomes new patients at its offices in Katy and Sugar Land. Call our office or send an appointment request, and our staff will follow up.
Most major insurance plans accepted; coverage is verified individually.
For possible heart attack or stroke symptoms, call 911.
