Angina Facts and Home Remedies

Angina refers to chest pain of discomfort that happens due to inadequate supply of oxygen-rich blood in the heart. While it is not a disease, it serves as a symptom of an underlying heart problem, such as coronary heart disease or CHD.

Causes and Statistics

Angina occurs due to reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. According to Mayo Clinic, when the heart muscle is not receiving adequate oxygen, it leads to a condition called ischemia. Ischemia involves death of myocardial tissues, since they do not have enough oxygen to carry out their vital functions. As per the publication, coronary artery disease or CAD is the most frequent cause of blood flow reduction in the hart. The disease occurs due to plaque formation secondary to fat accumulation. Risk factors include diet, alcohol consumption, smoking, and stress.

Signs and Symptoms

Angina has several symptoms. According to Mayo Clinic, these include pain in the arms, chest pain, jaw, neck, shoulder, nausea, shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, and sweating.

Home Remedies

While pharmacologic interventions or medications are parts of the medical management for angina, home remedies are also available to treat the condition.

Garlic

Garlic is one of the most known herbal anti-hypertensive and it serves as one of the most effective home remedies for chest pain. As per Top 10 Home Remedies, a 2006 study published in the “Journal of Nutrition” found that timely consumption of garlic helps prevent and postpone the development of a cardiovascular disease. Also, garlic helps reduce high cholesterol levels and prevent the build up of plaque on the arterial walls. As a effect, it enhances oxygen-rich blood flow to the heart. As per the publication, half teaspoon of garlic juice is added to a cup of hot water. Then, it is consumed. It can be a mode of prevention by consuming one to two garlic cloves every morning on an empty stomach.

Lemon

Aside from serving as refreshment because of its juice, lemon also has properties that make it a viable remedy for angina. According to Organic Facts, the fruit helps prevent cholesterol accumulation; thus, it prevents blockage in the blood vessels. Also, it acts as a deterrent for the condition. As remedy, lemons can be squeezed over salads or can be consumed as fresh lemon water. Hence, people may include it in their everyday diet.

Lifestyle Changes

According to medical expert Dr. Andrew Weil, as cited by Weil Lifestyle, lifestyle changes could help reverse the coronary insufficiency that led to angina. He added that while cardiac drugs could relieve the symptoms, they did not alter the underlying cause of the condition. Weil also said that surgical interventions were very expensive and that they were drastic procedures that might provide temporary relief, but did not halt the disease progress. These lifestyle changes include exercise, smoking cessation, improved diet (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein), avoiding overexertion, and relaxation techniques.

Angina is one of the contributing factors to one of the lead causes of death around the world. Thus, seeking medical consult is vital for assessment, disease identification, intervention, and health education.

 

 

 

 

Source: rd.com

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