angina workplace prevention

Overview

Angina is chest pain or discomfort that happens when part of your heart does not get enough oxygen-rich blood. It is a symptom of coronary heart disease, not a disease on its own. Many people describe it as pressure, tightness, heaviness, or a squeezing feeling in the chest, sometimes spreading to the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back.

Yes, angina is common. It affects millions of people worldwide and is a typical first sign of coronary heart disease.

Angina usually affects adults over 50, but younger people can develop it too, especially if they have risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, or a strong family history of heart disease.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

• Pressure, tightness, heaviness, or squeezing in the chest
• Pain that spreads to the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea or feeling tired
• Sweating or feeling light-headed

Causes

Main causes

• Coronary artery disease — fatty patches called plaques narrow the arteries that feed the heart muscle
• Spasm of a coronary artery, which temporarily reduces blood flow
• Certain heart conditions, such as aortic valve disease, that make the heart work harder

Risk factors

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Being overweight or physically inactive
• Unhealthy diet high in salt and saturated fat
• Family history of heart disease
• Stress
• Older age
• Use of stimulant drugs, such as cocaine

When to see a doctor

See a doctor urgently if:

• If you have any emergency symptoms listed above, call your local emergency number immediately.
• If you have new or changing angina symptoms, call your GP or hospital team the same day.
• If angina starts to happen at rest, is more frequent, or lasts longer, seek urgent medical advice.

Book a routine appointment if:

• If you have stable angina and have questions about work or need a workplace assessment
• If you are planning to return to work after a heart event or procedure
• If you need help completing a workplace health or benefits form
• For a regular review of your heart health and treatment plan

Diagnosis

Your doctor or specialist will take a detailed history, ask about your symptoms and triggers, and examine you. They may also arrange tests to check your heart function and blood flow.

Tests that may be done

• Electrocardiogram (ECG) to record the heart's electrical activity
• Blood tests for cholesterol and other markers
• Exercise stress test to see how the heart works during physical activity
• Echocardiogram, an ultrasound of the heart
• Coronary angiography, an X-ray test with dye, in some cases

What to expect at your appointment

You may be asked to describe your work activities so your healthcare team can suggest safe adjustments. You will receive a personal treatment plan and advice about when to seek urgent help.

Treatment

Treatment for angina aims to relieve symptoms, stop the underlying disease from getting worse, and reduce the risk of a heart attack. It usually combines lifestyle changes, medication, close follow-up, and sometimes a procedure to restore blood flow.

Self-care at home

• Learn your angina triggers and avoid them where possible
• Take planned rest breaks, especially before strenuous tasks
• Stop the activity, rest, and sit or lie down when symptoms start
• If you carry prescribed medicine, use it exactly as your healthcare team advises
• Follow your chest pain action plan if you have one
• Don't lift heavy loads or do sudden intense exercise without checking with your doctor
• Seek advice if your symptoms change or become harder to control

Medical treatments

Your doctor may prescribe medicines to widen blood vessels, slow the heart rate, reduce cholesterol, or help the heart work more easily. All medicines must be taken exactly as prescribed. Some people need a procedure, such as coronary angioplasty (widening a narrowed artery with a small balloon and a wire mesh tube called a stent) or coronary artery bypass surgery. Your doctor will talk through the benefits and risks with you.

When is surgery considered?

Surgery is considered if angina is not controlled by medicines, or if tests show severe narrowing in the arteries that supply the heart muscle. Your heart specialist will decide whether a procedure is needed in your case.

Living with this condition

You can usually continue working with angina, but it may need some changes. Talk to your employer or occupational health team about making your work routine safer — for example, taking regular breaks, reducing heavy physical tasks, and planning where you can rest quickly if symptoms start.

Lifestyle tips

• Stop smoking and avoid second-hand smoke
• Limit alcohol to the amounts recommended by your doctor
• Get enough good-quality sleep
• Manage high blood pressure and diabetes carefully
• Keep all medical appointments and take any prescribed medicines as directed
• Learn stress management techniques like slow breathing or mindfulness

Diet and exercise

Eat a heart-healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, fish, and lean protein, and low in salt, sugary drinks, and foods high in saturated fat. Regular physical activity helps, but check with your healthcare team before starting a new exercise schedule. Aim for moderate activity such as brisk walking for about 30 minutes on most days, and avoid sudden bursts of intense effort without training.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Living with a heart condition can cause anxiety, stress, and low mood. These feelings are normal but can also make angina harder to live with. Talk to your GP or cardiac team if you feel anxious or depressed. They can suggest counseling, stress management courses, or peer support groups. Taking care of your mental health is part of heart care.

Prevention

You cannot always prevent coronary heart disease, but you can do a great deal to reduce your risk of angina attacks. At work, that means understanding your limits, avoiding known triggers when possible, and using planned rest periods. On a wider level, controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and stress, and following a heart-healthy lifestyle can stop the disease progressing.

Vaccines

Infections like the flu can put extra strain on your heart. Many people with heart conditions are advised to have a yearly flu vaccination and a pneumococcal vaccine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist which vaccinations are recommended for you.

Screening programmes

Regular health checks with your GP or practice nurse can catch high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes early. If you already have heart disease, routine follow-up checks help make sure your treatment is working and your symptoms are controlled.

Complications

If left untreated

• The narrowing in your arteries may worsen, increasing your risk of a heart attack.
• Unstable angina — where symptoms come on suddenly, at rest, or get worse quickly — is a medical emergency that can lead to a full heart attack.
• Long-term reduced blood flow may weaken the heart muscle, leading to heart failure or an irregular heart rhythm.

Long-term outlook

The outlook for angina is much better than it used to be. With modern medicine, a healthy lifestyle, and good support, most people with stable angina keep a good quality of life and continue their usual work and activities. The important thing is to take your symptoms seriously, follow your treatment plan, and seek rapid help when anything changes.

Find support

International organisations

• British Heart Foundation ↗

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