What Are the Symptoms of Prinzmetal's Angina?
Prinzmetal's angina, also called variant angina and atypical angina, is a form of angina that typically attacks when an affected individual is resting or relaxed. Prinzmetal's angina is effectively treated with calcium blockers and nitrates, although severe cases might require an angioplasty. Learn more about the symptoms of Prinzmetal's angina here.
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Chest Pain
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The most common symptom of Prinzmetal's angina is chest pain. This pain is frequently described as feeling like there is a heavy pressure on the chest or a tightness inside the chest.
Radiating Pain
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Although Prinzmetal's angina pain starts in the chest, it can spread to the arms, throat, jaws, mouth and between the shoulder blades. The pain often radiates to the stomach, where it is mistaken for indigestion or ulcer pain.
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Other Symptoms
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Other typical symptoms of Prinzmetal's angina include light-headedness, breathing difficulties, sweating and nausea. Many patients also experience palpitations, which are irregular or rapid heartbeats.
Cause
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Prinzmetal's angina is caused by coronary artery spasms. These spasms cause the arteries to narrow temporarily, reducing the blood flow to the heart.
Triggers
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Symptoms of Prinzmetal's angina are frequently triggered by high levels of emotional stress and a heavy smoking habit. Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), uncontrolled high blood pressure or heart valve disease run an increased risk of developing this condition.
Considerations
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Prinzmetal's angina is the rarest form of angina, accounting for only about 2 percent of angina cases. Prinzmetal's angina affects more females than males, and can occur even in individuals who don't have coronary artery disease (CAD).
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References
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- Photo Credit Creative Commons photo by nackrufs
