Is Cervical Angina Dangerous
If you’ve ever experienced chest pain, it's likely you were frightened and immediately thought of dangerous and life-threatening conditions like heart disease or even a heart attack. However, even though people complaining about chest pain make up a significant portion of ER patients, only a small percentage suffer from heart-related chest pain. One reason you might be experiencing these issues without your heart being affected could be cervical angina, a type of chest pain caused by neck problems rather than heart issues. This article explains what Cervical Angina is, its symptoms, and how it can occur. It will also discuss whether the condition can be serious, when to speak to your doctor, and how a healthcare professional can distinguish it from heart-related chest pains.
What is Cervical Angina?
Contrary to what it might seem, Cervical Angina is not caused by heart issues, but instead by neck problems. When nerves in that area become pinched or irritated, they send pain signals that you can then feel in your chest, shoulder, or arm and easily mistake for pain in your heart. This can often feel like pressure, tightness, or burning in the chest.
Some specific causes may include a herniated or bulging disc, arthritis in the neck, spinal stenosis, poor posture, or neck injuries. Symptoms often worse with neck movement and can vary in intensity depending on your posture and how long you maintain a position.
Is Cervical Angina Dangerous?
Even though it feels frightening, Cervical Angina itself is not dangerous and cannot kill you. However, it shares several symptoms with heart attacks and Cardiac Angina, such as:
Chest pain or pressure
Pain in the shoulders, arms, neck, or jaw
Weakness
Fatigue
Dizziness
Light-headedness
Shortness of breath
Feeling of tightness, squeezing or burning in the chest
Due to these shared symptoms, it is essential that you speak to your doctor to rule out serious causes requiring urgent care, even if symptoms subside on their own.
How is Cervical Angina Diagnosed?
To ensure your symptoms are unrelated to your heart health and to find out the underlying cause, your doctor may take several diagnostic steps. First, they usually perform an ECG or stress test to rule out serious heart issues. If nothing is detected, they will examine your neck and spine, for which MRI or CT scans can be helpful, as they can identify issues with your discs and pinched nerves in your neck. Additionally, a physical exam can help assess your reflexes, muscle strength, and neck movement, giving your doctor the opportunity to ask related questions, such as whether moving your neck worsens your symptoms. If needed, you may be referred to a specialist, like a neurologist or spine specialist, to help you feel your best as soon as possible.
Treatment and Management
Once you are diagnosed with Cervical Angina, there are several steps you can take in cooperation with your doctor to alleviate your symptoms. In some cases, simply resting and correcting your posture, as well as avoiding heavy lifting, can do the trick. Doctors also often recommend physical therapy to strengthen your neck. While in recovery, many people with Cervical Angina take different medications for more comfort, including pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxers or nerve pain medicine. Some examples may include Robaxin (Methocarbamol) or Motrin IB (Ibuprofen). Patients may also benefit from heat or ice therapy. In more severe and rare cases where the above measures aren’t effective, your doctor may discuss injections or surgery.
Takeaway: Cervical Angina is Not Dangerous
Although Cervical Angina closely resembles Cardiac Angina or a heart attack and can therefore feel highly alarming, it is not a dangerous condition and cannot kill you. While this article intends to provide you with important facts to help put your mind at ease, it is still essential to see a doctor, rule out more serious underlying issues, receive an accurate diagnosis, and start the most effective treatment for a quick recovery.
