Angina, also called angina pectoris, is a term used to describe chest pain. Along with chest pain, individuals may also feel a sensation of pressure or tightness in the chest. The angina pain may be felt in the jaw, arm, neck, back or shoulder as well. Angina, caused by a reduced amount of oxygen flowing to the heart, is a symptom of heart disease and is not a medical condition itself. Angina signifies that the affected individual is at a greater risk of suffering from a heart attack or cardiac arrest, according to the American Heart Association. Angina has three different classifications.
Stable Angina
Stable angina is chest pain that typically occurs when an individual suffering from coronary artery disease (CAD) increases the oxygen demand on the heart. With CAD, the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart are weakened or blocked. The lack of oxygen delivered to the heart causes the angina. Stable angina is predictable because it generally occurs with increased activity, cold weather or stress. These conditions increase the heart rate and cause the chest pain. The pain lasts for approximately one to 15 minutes, according to Medline Plus. Treatment for stable angina includes rest and nitroglycerin tablets placed under the tongue.
Unstable Angina
Unstable angina occurs when the chest pain begins to last longer than 15 minutes, comes on without warning and does not respond well to rest and medication. This classification of angina is associated with an increased risk of an impending heart attack. The pain may change in severity once unstable angina occurs.
Variant Angina
Variant angina, also referred to as Prinzmetal's angina, is a rare form of angina, according to the Mayo Clinic. An individual experiences variant angina after a spasm in one of the blood vessels that carries oxygen to the heart, also called coronary arteries. If a coronary artery suddenly spasms, the vessel narrows and decreases the blood supply to the heart. Risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and cold temperatures increase the chance of developing coronary artery spasms. This type of angina pain occurs during rest, usually between the hours of midnight to 8 a.m. and lasts for five to 30 minutes. Variant angina responds to nitroglycerin tablets.
