Angina pectoris or angina is temporary chest pain or discomfort as a result of decreased blood flow to the heart muscle. Angina is not a heart attack, but it is a sign of increased risk for heart attack. Angina may be stable (develops during physical activity, lasts five minutes or less and is relieved with rest) or unstable (occurs during periods of rest, lasts longer, and symptoms may be more severe). Show
Your doctor may perform an electrocardiogram (ECG), a stress test without imaging or blood tests to help diagnose your condition. Additionally, chest x-ray, chest CT, coronary CT angiography, cardiac MRI, coronary angiography, echocardiogram or stress test with imaging may be performed. Your physician may recommend certain lifestyle changes in addition to other treatment options, such as medication, surgery, or angioplasty and vascular stenting. What is angina pectoris?Angina pectoris, or just angina, is temporary chest pain or discomfort caused by decreased blood flow to the heart muscle. Because of the decreased flow of blood, there is not enough oxygen to the heart muscle resulting in chest pain. Coronary artery disease, which can result in narrowing of the coronary arteries that carry blood and oxygen to the heart muscle, is one of the most common causes of angina. While angina is not a heart attack, it does signal an increased risk for a heart attack. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any chest pain or discomfort. There are two main types of angina—stable and unstable. Stable angina, the most common type, develops during physical activity and usually lasts a short time (approximately five minutes or less) if the physical activity has ended. Unstable angina is less common and usually occurs during periods of rest. Unstable angina usually lasts longer and symptoms may be more severe. Symptoms of angina include:
There are many risk factors associated with angina including, but not limited to, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, family history, tobacco use, stress and age. top of page How is angina pectoris diagnosed and evaluated?In order to diagnose the cause of angina, the following tests may be performed:
Additionally, the following imaging tests may be performed:
top of page How is angina pectoris treated?Many doctors may recommend certain lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy weight, consuming a balanced diet low in fats, discontinuing the use of tobacco products and finding ways to reduce stress. Additionally, you may also be treated with:
top of page Which test, procedure or treatment is best for me?top of page This page was reviewed on February, 08, 2021 ImagesView full size with caption Sponsored ByPlease noteRadiologyInfo.org is not a medical facility. Please contact your physician with specific medical questions or for a referral to a radiologist or other physician. To locate a medical imaging or radiation oncology provider in your community, you can search the ACR-accredited facilities database. This website does not provide cost information. The costs for specific medical imaging tests, treatments and procedures may vary by geographic region. Discuss the fees associated with your prescribed procedure with your doctor, the medical facility staff and/or your insurance provider to get a better understanding of the possible charges you will incur. Web page review process: This Web page is reviewed regularly by a physician with expertise in the medical area presented and is further reviewed by committees from the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR), comprising physicians with expertise in several radiologic areas. Outside links: For the convenience of our users, RadiologyInfo.org provides links to relevant websites. RadiologyInfo.org, RSNA and ACR are not responsible for the content contained on the web pages found at these links. When a patient reports chest pain Why must unstable angina be identified and rapidly treated?Unstable angina should be treated as an emergency. If you have new, worsening or persistent chest discomfort, you need to go to the ER. You could be having a heart attack which puts you at increased risk for severe cardiac arrhythmias or cardiac arrest, which could lead to sudden death.
What is the treatment for unstable angina?During an unstable angina event: You may get heparin (or another blood thinner) and nitroglycerin (under the tongue or through an IV). Other treatments may include medicines to control blood pressure, anxiety, abnormal heart rhythms, and cholesterol (such as a statin drug).
What is the first line treatment for unstable angina?Patients with unstable angina require admission to the hospital for bed rest with continuous telemetry monitoring. One should obtain intravenous (IV) access, and provide supplemental oxygen if evidence of desaturation is noted.
When evaluating a patient with suspected unstable angina Which of the following is the most important test that should be done within 10 minutes of presentation?The first line of assessment in any patient with suspected unstable angina is the 12-lead ECG, which should be obtained within 10 minutes of the patient's arrival in the ED.
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