Angina happens when there is not enough blood flow to the heart muscle. This is often a result of narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. Angina symptoms include chest pain or pressure. But you might feel other symptoms like pain, pressure, or a strange feeling in the back, neck, jaw, or upper belly, or one or both shoulders or arms.

Stable angina means that you can usually predict when your symptoms will happen. You probably know what things cause your angina. For example, you know how much activity usually causes your angina. You also know how to relieve your symptoms. Your symptoms may go away when you rest or take nitroglycerin.

Your pattern of stable angina may continue without much change for years.