Seems that during an angina attack, the heart rate would always speed up and never slow down, being that oxygen supply to the heart during an anginal episode is shorted.
An elevated heart rate means more oxygen to the heart, right?
But sometimes, things don’t always work the way they seemingly should.
When someone thinks they’re having an episode of angina (but they’ve never been diagnosed with this common condition), they might reflexively check their pulse to see if it’s sped up or slowed down.
If it’s what it normally is, this may reassure them that their symptoms are not caused by angina.
Heart Rate During an Angina Episode
“Angina is a symptom that occurs when the muscle of the heart is not receiving enough blood and therefore not enough oxygen,” says Michael Hoosien, MD, MSc, a cardiac electrophysiologist with Piedmont Heart Hospital in Atlanta, GA.
“This is called cardiac ischemia. When the heart muscle is ischemic, the heart rate can increase, decrease or remain unchanged.
“In addition, it is possible to see abnormalities in heart rhythm and abnormalities in how the electrical impulse moves through the heart.
“The vagus nerve is often stimulated during episodes of cardiac ischemia, and the vagus nerve can cause the heart rate to slow down.
“In addition, the vagus nerve can contribute to sweating, feelings of restlessness, anxiety and dizziness. These are all commonly seen during severe angina.”
Who’s most likely to develop angina?
This common condition is most likely to develop in those with underlying coronary artery disease, particularly over age 50.
Men are generally at higher risk than women, although women’s risk increases after menopause.
Other significant risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, a junk food diet regardless of body weight, and a sedentary lifestyle.
People with a family history of heart disease are also more prone to angina.
Additionally, those under chronic stress may be more susceptible.
Angina tends to occur during physical exertion or emotional stress, when the heart requires more oxygen than the narrowed arteries can supply.
Dr. Hoosien treats patients with heart arrhythmias and has a special interest in catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation, management of ventricular and supraventricular tachycardia, and cardiac resynchronization therapy.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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