Heart disease is a very common problem in the US and heart disease is most commonly marked by chest pain, known medically as angina pectoris. Those with chest pain often experience a "heavy" feeling, along with aching, pressure, burning, along with the pain. Angina pectoris is the most common symptom of heart disease. There are many other ailments that feel like angina pectoris, but those with any chest pain should seek medical help immediately due to the complications that can occur because of heart disease.

Chest pain is caused by the decrease in blood flow to a particular area of the heart. Because of this, oxygen and nutrients cannot be delivered to cells in the heart and thus the muscles of the heart uses different fuels to pump blood throughout the body. Lactic acid builds up in the muscle when this happens, because it is a byproduct of the heart's usage of an alternative fuel. The lactic acid then causes pain.

There are two different types of angina (pain.) Stable angina is the more common of the two and occurs during high physical activity or stress and this pain ends when in a relaxed state. Unstable angina often marks a heart attack and is a different pain that can occur at any time (during physical activity, stress, and in a relaxed state.) It is extremely important for those experiencing unstable angina to seek medical attention immediately.