Pain in the centre of the chest, generally provoked by exercise but sometimes spontaneous. It may be severe and felt also in the arms and the jaw. The condition is the result of the heart's demand for blood being greater than that which the coronary arteries can provide. This failure is most often due to narrowing of the coronary arteries by ATHEROMA; rarely, it may be caused by congenital defects in the arteries rendering them incapable of carrying sufficient blood to meet increased demands from the body.

So-called ‘stable’ angina, where the patient is inconvenienced rather than impaired by the condition, may be relieved or prevented by such drugs as glyceryl trinitrate or BETA-ADRENOCEPTOR-BLOCKING DRUGS. If drug treatment does not provide control, surgery on the coronary arteries such as angioplasty or CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFTING (CABG) may be necessary. People who suffer from angina pectoris need advice on their lifestyle, and in particular on diet, exercise and avoidance of smoking or excessive alcohol consumption. They may have high blood pressure, which will also require medical treatment (see HEART, DISEASES OF; HYPERTENSION).