Angina

Angina is chest pain or discomfort that happens when the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen-rich blood, a condition called cardiac ischemia. It often feels like pressure or squeezing, and the pain can spread to the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute notes that angina can even feel like an upset stomach, and symptoms can differ between women and men.

NHLBI says angina is very common, affecting approximately 11 million people in the United States. Stable angina usually comes on with exertion or stress and eases with rest or medication. Unstable angina comes on unexpectedly or at rest and is a medical emergency, because it can signal an impending heart attack. Most angina is caused by coronary heart disease, the buildup of plaque in the arteries that feed the heart.

Angina appears in lawsuits mostly as evidence of heart injury. Drug and supplement cases alleging that a product raised the risk of heart attack or stroke often include patients who first reported chest pain. Stimulant-containing weight loss or energy supplements, some migraine and diabetes drugs, and testosterone products have all faced claims involving cardiovascular events. In each, the question is whether the product caused or worsened the heart problem, which requires medical records and expert review.

If you had chest pain after starting a product, get medical care first. Then keep your ER records, test results such as ECGs and stress tests, and the product itself. These cases are individual claims, usually grouped as mass torts. Our supplement mislabeling page covers hidden stimulant claims.