Angina pectoris is a dull pain felt in the center of the chest that may radiate down the left arm and up into the neck and jaw accompanied by dizziness, nausea, sweating, and difficult breathing. These symptoms are usually worse < on exertion and by excitement. Unlike a true "heart attack" the pain usually is better > when resting. Angina is caused by arteriosclerosis that has diminished the flow of blood to the muscle. A heart attack occurs when the heart muscle itself has been damaged by a lack of oxygen. This usually happens when one of the arteries leading to the heart is block by a blood clot (coronary thrombosis). This results in cardiac infarction, which is the dead of part of the heart muscles.

The victim usually experiences pain in the center of the chest that radiates down both of the arms and into the neck and jaw, breathlessness, dizziness, sweats, chills and nausea. The pain are sometimes described as being crushing, agonizing, bursting or viselike. In severe case the individual will stop breathing, collapse and loss consciousness. The action taken in the first 3 minutes may make the difference between life and death. Apply CPR immediately (refer) and call the emergency. When the patient begins to breath place the individual in recovery position and give a remedy for asphyxia as needed.

Materia Medica

Aconite (3): Attacks of intense pain extending from the heart down the left arm, with numbness and tingling of fingers and fear and anxiety that he will drop dead in the street. Nervous and confused in a crowd. Palpitations with anxiety, cardiac oppression, and syncope. Palpitations < when walking, lancinating stitches prevent the patient from assuming the erect position or taking a deep breath. Panic attacks.

Arnica (3): Strain to the heart muscle, producing uncomplicated hypertrophy, with swelling of hand from any exertion, hands turn red when hanging down. Heart feels as if tightly grasped by the hand the whole chest feels sore and bruised and cannot bear the clothing to touch it. Pulse is full and strong. Tells everyone he is fine and does not want to be approached. Often the first remedy to use, especially if the heart attack has been brought on by exertion.

Cactus (3): Sensation of constriction of the heart, feels as if it were compressed or squeezed by an iron hand. Heart pains come on slowly, gradually increase then gradually subside. Angina pectoris, with suffocation, cold sweat and ever-present iron band feeling. Blood clots. Pulse feeble, irregular quick, without strength. Melancholic, taciturn, sad, and ill humored. Worse < about noon, lying on the left side, walking, going upstairs. 11 a.m. and 11 p.m.. Better > open air.

Digitalis (2): Sudden sensation that the heart stood still. Pulse very small, slow, feeble, intermitting every third, fifth and seventh beat. Feels as if the heart would stop beating if she moved. Blueness, coldness and suffocation. Despondency, fearful, anxious for the future. Worse < when sitting erect, after meals, music. Better > when stomach is empty, in open air.

Kalmia (2): Sharp, severe pains about heart taking way the breath with shooting down into stomach and abdomen with slow pulse and numb feelings in left arm. Pains often travel downward in heart attacks. Rapid and visible beating of the heat, paroxysms of anguish with great breathlessness, pains in limbs, stitching lower part of chest, right sided face ache. Worse < when bending over Better > by sitting erect.

Lachesis (3): Great loquacity, jumps from on subject to another. Fits of suffocation and fainting, especially when moving, pulse weak, intermittent, stitches in left side of chest. Can bear nothing tight around the neck or waist. Horrible, smothering feeling about the heart awaking him from sleep and compelling him to leave the bed, dread of going to sleep on account of marked aggravation. Pain begins on the left and extends to the right. The face is purple, mottled puffed. looks swollen and bloated. Worse < sleep, and on going to sleep, left side, and heat.

Lactrodectus Mactans (3): The bite of this spider simulates a heart attack. Constriction of the chest muscles, with radiation to the back. Gasping breath. Violent, precordial pain extending to the axilla down the arm and forearm to fingers with numbness of extremity. Pulse feeble and rapid. Skin as cold as marble. Fears losing his breath. Use this remedy if no other is specifically indicated.

Laurocerasus (2): Sensation as if the heart would turn over, causing him to gasp for breath, worse when lying down. Spasmodic tickling cough in cardiac patients. Breathlessness worse < from lying down, motion, stooping, eating, drinking, or warmth.

Naja (2): Sense of oppression in chest, as if a hot iron had been run into it and a big weight put upon it. Angina, threatened paralysis of the heart, body cold, pulse slow, weak, irregular and tremulous. Angina pains extending to the nape of neck, left shoulder and arm with anxiety and fear of death Can not lie on left side, but has great > relief of pain and breathlessness when lying on right side. Worse < from stimulants. Better > walking of riding in open air.

Spigelia (2): Great breathlessness at every change of position. Breathlessness, must lie on right side with head high. Sharp, shooting pains from the heart to the back, radiating form the heart down the arm, over the chest, and down the spine. Great weakness of the body after walking, Great oppression or anxiety about the heart. Craving for hot water which > ameliorates. Fear of sharp pointed things such as needle and pins, afraid of injections and acupuncture. Worse < from touch, motion, noise, turning , washing , concussion. Better > lying on right side with head high, inspiring.

Tarentula (2): Heart suddenly ceases to beat, with fear of death and constant want of air. Trembling and thumbing of the heart as from a fright. Palpitation with precordial anguish, sensation as if heart twisted and turned around. Heart attack from seeing others in trouble. Extreme restlessness. Worse < motion, contact, noise, seeing others in trouble. Better > in open air, music, bright colors, rubbing affected parts.

Repertorium

HEART, attack, angina pectoris - ACON., apis., arg-n., ARN., ars., aur., CACT., carbo-v., Dig., Glon., iod., Kalm, LACH., LAT-M., Laur., Naja., nux-v., phos., rhus-t., Spig., verat., Tarent.

Mind -

anguish with great breathlessness - Kalm.

anxiety he will drop dead in the street - Acon.

anxious for the future. dig., spig.

despondency, dig.

fear -

death, during - ACON., ars., cact., DIG., Naja, Phos., tarent.

losing his breath. - Lat-m.

sharp pointed things such as needle and pins, afraid of injections and acupuncture - Spig.

fine, tells everyone he's is - ARN.

loquacity, great, jumps from on subject to another - LACH.

melancholic, taciturn, sad and ill humored - Cact.

panic - ACON.

restlessness, extreme - TARENT.

Pain -

extensions -

angina pains extending to the nape of neck, left shoulder and arm with anxiety and fear of death - Naja.

downward, pains often travel, in heart attacks - Kalm.

left arm, extending from the heart to, with numbness and tingling of fingers - ACON.

left to right - LACH.

violent, precordial pain extending to the axilla down the arm and forearm to fingers with numbness of extremity - LAT-M.

come on slowly, gradually increase then gradually subside - cact.

hand -

squeezed by an iron hand, as if - CACT.

tightly grasped by the hand, as if -arn.

left sided - LACH.

sore and bruised, chest feels - ARN.

Stopped, sensation as if - Arg-n., Aur., Cact., DIG., Lach., tarent.

stop beating, feels as if the heart would, if she moved - DIG.

Disclaimer: This information is supplied for educational purposes only. It is not for the treatment of any individual person or disease. If you are suffering any particular complaint please consult a physician or call emergency services.