Guest guest Posted March 4, 2010 Report Share Posted March 4, 2010 Excerpt from: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Angina/Angina_WhatIs.html Types of Angina The three types of angina are stable, unstable, and variant (Prinzmetal's). Knowing how the types are different is important. This is because they have different symptoms and require different treatment. Stable Angina Stable angina is the most common type. It occurs when the heart is working harder than usual. Stable angina has a regular pattern. If you know you have stable angina, you can learn to recognize the pattern and predict when the pain will occur. The pain usually goes away in a few minutes after you rest or take your angina medicine. Stable angina isn't a heart attack, but it makes a heart attack more likely in the future. Unstable Angina Unstable angina doesn't follow a pattern. It can occur with or without physical exertion and isn't relieved by rest or medicine. Unstable angina is very dangerous and needs emergency treatment. It's a sign that a heart attack may happen soon. Variant (Prinzmetal's) Angina Variant angina is rare. It usually occurs while you're at rest. The pain can be severe. It usually happens between midnight and early morning. This type of angina is relieved by medicine. Overview It's thought that nearly 7 million people in the United States suffer from angina. About 400,000 patients go to their doctors with new cases of angina every year. Angina occurs equally in men and women. It can be a sign of heart disease, even when initial tests don't show evidence of CAD. Not all chest pain or discomfort is angina. A heart attack, lung problems (such as an infection or a blood clot), heartburn, or a panic attack also can cause chest pain or discomfort. All chest pain should be checked by a doctor. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Angina/Angina_WhatIs.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.