From 21 to 27 September, Breast Angina Awareness Week is being celebrated in Poland at the initiative of the European Society of Cardiology and with the support of the Polish Cardiac Society. During this time, intensified activities are planned to build public awareness of angina pectoris - a serious cardiovascular condition, still too rarely diagnosed and treated, which is a direct result of ischaemic heart disease.
Angina pectoris, or angina pectoris
Angina pectoris is characterised by a syndrome of symptoms caused by a reduction in the amount of oxygen supplied to the heart muscle relative to its needs. When the heart is working normally, the amount of blood flowing through the coronary arteries provides the appropriate amount of oxygen and nutrients that the heart muscle needs to do its job. When the demand for oxygen increases - e.g. due to physical exertion or emotion - the blood, as a result of constrictions in the coronary arteries, does not provide sufficient oxygen and a deficit occurs in the myocardium, which manifests itself in the pressure-like pain characteristic of angina pectoris.
The symptoms of angina are not always characteristic - they include shortness of breath and excessive sweating after exertion, a feeling of heaviness, fatigue and weakness, tightness, heaviness, throbbing, a burning sensation and retrosternal (angina) pain. This pain is located in the sternal region, radiating usually to the left side of the body towards the neck, jaw, left shoulder or arm, to the epigastrium and to the inter-scapular region. It is usually accompanied by palpitations, breathlessness and restlessness. Such pain can last from several to several minutes, and sometimes even longer, and its intensity does not change with a change in body position or phase of the respiratory cycle.
Unfortunately, there are still many patients who do not recognise the symptoms of angina at an early stage. However, diagnosing angina too late leads to progressive deterioration of physical performance, including risk of disability, and results in dangerous consequences, including the occurrence of heart attack and stroke. Late diagnosis also means a poorer prognosis for treatment.
Angina pectoris - incidence:
According to expert estimates, every day in Europe between 2 and 4 people per 1,000 inhabitants develop angina, and between 20 and 40 people per 1,000 inhabitants become ill. Approximately 1.5 million people in Poland may suffer from angina and up to 8.5 million people in the USA.
Angina pectoris - treatment
Treatment of angina pectoris (drug therapy) aims to reduce the severity of the symptoms of the disease and improve the quality of life of patients and prevent cardiovascular incidents. Treatment consists of inhibiting changes in the coronary vascular region and preventing myocardial ischaemia. Prevention plays an important supporting role in the treatment of angina.
Opt for prevention - nip the problem in the bud.
Lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of ischaemic heart disease by up to 80 per cent. In the prevention of angina, the key factors are:
- A healthy diet (vegetables, fruit, whole grain cereals, dairy products, fish, nuts, poultry, lean meat)
- Limit the intake of unhealthy ingredients, e.g. salt, trans fats
- Eating regularly
- Drinking water
- Physical activity
- Avoiding stressful situations
- Avoidance of alcohol, smoking
- Regular preventive examinations
Polish Breast Angina Awareness Week (21-27 September 2020).
As part of the campaign, the organisers have planned activities aimed primarily at drawing attention to the health problem posed by angina pectoris, education on its symptoms and management, and promotion of prevention and healthy lifestyles to counteract the onset of angina and its consequences. On 21 September, at dusk, the Warsaw building Warsaw Spire Building will display the campaign slogan in order to draw the attention of passers-by to the problem of angina.
In addition, residents of 15 cities in Poland (Warsaw, Krakow, Łódź, Wrocław, Poznań, Gdynia, Białystok, Katowice, Chorzów, Bytom, Siemianowice Śląskie, Mysłowice, Piekary Śląskie, Zabrze, Tarnowskie Góry) travelling on public transport (buses/trams, from 21-27 September) will be able to see a short educational spot on angina on advertising media.
Details of the campaign and educational material on angina - including information about the disease, tips on symptoms, how to recognise and live with angina - are available at www.dbajoserce.pl/poznaj-dlawice
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