What is an angina attack?

Television personality Paul O'Grady is to undergo surgery today following an angina attack.

What is angina?

• Angina is chest pain that occurs when the blood supply to the muscles of the heart is restricted
• It usually happens because the arteries supplying the heart become hardened and narrowed

• The pain and discomfort of angina feels like a dull, heavy or tight pain in the chest that can sometimes spread to the left arm, neck, jaw or back
• The pain is usually triggered by physical activity or stress and typically only lasts for a few minutes. This is often referred to as an angina attack

Source: NHS Choices