Unstable angina, also called angina coronary syndromes, is a medical emergency in which chest tightness or sudden chest pain worsens over a short period of time

 

While it is not a life-threatening heart attack, the early symptoms are similar to those of a heart attack and therefore the person may develop heart problems in the future.

 

Angina is considered a condition of inflammation and, if left untreated, can lead to a life-threatening condition. In fact, it is one of the leading causes of death in America. However, if left untreated and diagnosed quickly, angina can be largely controlled.

 

The symptoms of unstable angina are similar to those of coronary artery disease, but since it is the sudden chest discomfort that is of concern, most people believe it is a heart condition. Most patients experience mild to moderate angina during the day, as well as during exercise and physical activity. In others, angina pectoris occurs more often at night.

 

There are several common symptoms of stable angina. Patients usually experience chest discomfort that is aggravated by movement. The feeling in the chest is similar to the feeling of constriction. These symptoms can be very severe and are sometimes mistaken for heart problems.

 

In order to diagnose unstable angina, you have to see your doctor to rule out a coronary heart disease and the possibility of sudden chest discomfort. Your doctor will perform an electrocardiogram or ECG. If you do have the two conditions, a cardiac stress test can be performed. This is done by injecting a little dye into your coronary arteries and recording the changes in their pressure as the dye changes color. If the dye changes color it's a sign of inflammation, but if the dye stays the same then the heart is healthy and normal.

 

If you think your heart is stressed out you should get an exercise routine to relax it. If you're suffering from a disease that may cause heart problems or angina then you should immediately seek medical attention.

 

There are also a number of tests that can help diagnose unstable angina. Blood tests can check for heart disease, heart rate, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and oxygen saturation.

 

Because unstable angina can signal a life threatening heart condition, many people turn to angina treatment options to avoid any potential complications. Treatment options range from anticoagulants to coronary bypass.

 

If you don't have coronary artery disease or are experiencing angina because of a heart valve disease then you may need to have a procedure called Endovascular Thoracic Sympathectomy. This procedure can help prevent future heart attacks because it will allow the opening of the narrowed coronary arteries. This surgery is rarely performed and more frequently is used to reduce chest pains caused by angina.

 

Other angina treatments include beta blockers and a special type of medication called angiotensin-receptor antagonists that can lower the amount of angiotensin in your body. Angiotensin inhibitors are generally recommended for patients suffering from severe or persistent angina.

 

Other drugs that can help are aspirin and clonidine which can prevent the buildup of plaque on the walls of your coronary arteries and reduce the risk of heart disease. Beta blockers are also helpful in people with coronary artery disease because they increase the flow of oxygenated blood into the heart, which lowers the heart rate and reduces the risk of heart attack and heart disease.

 

Other angina treatment options include vasodilators such as nitroglycerin and shadow. They can decrease the amount of heart-related fluid in your body and can also ease the symptoms of angina. Patients who are using these types of medications need to be monitored carefully because they can have some side effects.

 

There is no definitive cure for unstable angina, but there are some things you can do to reduce the pain and shorten the duration of your symptoms. If you have chest pain and/or shortness of breath you should consult with your doctor about medications such as nitroglycerin. and stadol to keep your symptoms under control. If you have a history of angina, you should discuss this with your doctor to see if a surgical procedure might be the best option.