Patient was educated on pathophysiology of angina as follows:
- Angina is chest pain or discomfort triggered by factors that increase the work load of the heart, such as, episodes of stress or exercise.
- Activity and exercise increase the oxygen demand of the skeletal muscle. Force of cardiac contraction and heart rate increase to accommodate this demand and deliver more blood and oxygen to the skeletal muscle.
- Consequently, work load on the heart increases and leads to increased demand for blood and oxygen supply by the cardiac muscle.
- Cardiac muscle is supplied with oxygen-rich blood by coronary arteries. Under normal conditions, coronary arteries will allow flow of extra blood to the cardiac muscle, to meet the increased demand.
- But, blocked coronary arteries, such as, in individuals with history of atherosclerosis, deposition of cholesterol plaques, chronic smoking, and any other risk factors compromising the coronary arteries, cannot accommodate this extra blood flow and oxygen demand by the cardiac muscle.
- This disproportion between oxygen demand and supply, involving the cardiac muscle results in the chest discomfort and angina.
