Types of Angina (chest pain) to Watch Out For

When one experiences chest pains (angina), their first thought is they are having a heart attack. Angina is very common and varies in severity, depending on the type and cause. It is mostly known to cause coronary heart disease, which easily advances to a heart attack. Even though some types of angina can resolve with medication and good rest, chronic cases require a cardiologist Bakersfield, CA, to intervene. The different types of angina you should watch out for include;

1. Stable Angina

It is the most common type of chest pain. The sensation of pressure, squeezing, tightness, or pain around the center of your chest is very predictable. It occurs during physical exertion, like when climbing the stairs. It can also occur when you are having episodes of mental and emotional stress. It lasts a few minutes, and the symptoms resolve immediately with rest or medication. This type of chest pain does not symbolize an impending heart attack and is similar to previous episodes.

2. Unstable Angina

It is a more severe type of chest pain that can occur even when you are resting. The condition requires urgent medical attention since it can last for more than 30 minutes. Rest or medication does not ease the symptoms and can result in a heart attack if the blockage of the entire artery happens. A new episode of stable angina, or its increased recurrence, can be identified as unstable angina. Unstable angina indicates sudden progression of artery blockage due to rupture at the narrowing, which results in clot formation.

3. Variant Angina

Also known as Prinzmetal angina, variant angina is not caused by coronary artery blockage. Instead, it occurs due to sudden spasms in the arteries, which restricts blood from reaching the heart. Severe chest pains that happen during rest are the common indicators of the variant angina. The pain occurs in cycles and is most prevalent at night when you are in rest mode. The pain gets resolved spontaneously, but if the spasms are not stopped, it could cause a heart attack. Angina medications are classic for pain relief.

4. Refractory Angina

This is a chronic type of chest pain characterized by long-lasting symptoms over a period of 3 months. Refractory angina is not responsive to a combination of treatments such as angioplasty, medical therapy, or bypass surgery. This is because the common cause of angina pain is reversible ischemia. Lifestyle changes also are not proven to improve the symptoms.

Chest pains can indicate underlying medical conditions. The symptoms may vary, ranging from sensations of tightness and pressure to squeezing or pain in the middle of your chest. The pain may also radiate to your jaw, neck, arms, and back. As such, it is wise not to ignore any pain that suddenly hits you when walking, during exercises, or while resting. Angina has many causes, and you may be risking a heart attack in the worst-case scenario. Moreover, any chest pain that does not resolve with medication or rest should thus be treated as an emergency.