Causes of Prinzmetal's Angina
Prinzmetal's
angina is caused by a spasm in a coronary artery. This spasm causes the walls of the artery to tighten. This narrows the artery, causing the blood flow to the heart muscle to slow or stop.
Symptoms of Prinzmetal's Angina
Severe chest pain is the main symptom of Prinzmetal's angina. People with Prinzmetal's
angina symptoms usually feel a pressure-like pain in or around the:
- Chest
- Shoulders
- Jaw
- Neck
- Back
- Arms.
It may also feel like a squeezing, pressing sensation in the chest.
Other symptoms of Prinzmetal's angina can include:
- Indigestion or heartburn-type sensation
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
- Lightheadedness
- Weakness.
The severe pain or discomfort associated with Prinzmetal's angina:
- Usually occurs at rest
- Occurs between midnight and early morning hours
- Is relieved by angina medicine.
Diagnosing Prinzmetal's Angina
In order to make a diagnosis of Prinzmetal's angina, your healthcare provider will ask a number of questions and perform a physical exam, looking for signs and
symptoms of angina. He or she will also recommend certain tests and/or procedures, such as an electrocardiogram (EKG) and a
cardiac catheterization. During the cardiac catheterization, the doctor will look for any artery that spasms when chest pain occurs. If he or she cannot find a suspect artery, medicine may be given that provokes a susceptible artery to spasm.
Before making a Prinzmetal's
angina diagnosis, the healthcare provider will also consider other conditions that can cause similar angina symptoms. Some of these conditions include:
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