Stable & Unstable Angina
There are two types of Angina you can be diagnosed with;
i) Stable Angina (More Common) attacks have a trigger such as exercise or stress for example but Stable Angina normally stops after a few minutes of rest.
ii) Unstable Angina (more serious) attacks are more unpredictable (these may not have a trigger) and can continue after rest.
Blood Clots that block an Artery partially or totally are what causes unstable Angina. Typically, the Artery will have plaque build-up (Austerosclerosis) that has narrowed the vessel. The plaque may have damaged areas that make it easier for blood to clot.
- Chest pain that feels like pressure or indigestion.
- Pain that radiates to your left shoulder or down your left arm.
- Shortness of breath.
- Dizziness.
- Nausea.
- Exhaustion.
Unstable Stable angina symptoms include:
- Chest pain that you may also feel in the shoulder, arm, jaw, neck, back, or other area.
- Discomfort that feels like tightness, squeezing, crushing, burning, choking, or aching.
- Discomfort that occurs at rest and does not easily go away when you take medicine.
- Shortness of breath.
- Sweating.
You can live quite comfortably with unstable Angina If your symptoms are well controlled and you make healthy lifestyle changes, you can usually have a normal life.
- Stop what you're doing and rest.
- Use your GTN medicine/spray as directed.
- Take another dose after 5 minutes if the first one does not help.
- Call for an ambulance if you still have symptoms 5 minutes after taking the second dose.
