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Unstable angina is a type of angina pectoris [1] that is irregular or more easily provoked. [2] It is classified as a type of acute coronary syndrome. [3]It can be difficult to distinguish unstable angina from non-ST elevation (non-Q wave) myocardial infarction.
The primary factor differentiating unstable angina from stable angina (other than symptoms) is the underlying pathophysiology of the atherosclerosis. The pathophysiology of unstable angina is the reduction of coronary blood flow due to transient platelet aggregation on apparently normal endothelium, coronary artery spasms, or coronary thrombosis.
The accepted management of unstable angina and acute coronary syndrome is therefore empirical treatment with aspirin, a second platelet inhibitor such as clopidogrel, prasugrel or ticagrelor, and heparin (usually a low-molecular weight heparin), with intravenous nitroglycerin and opioids if the pain persists.
All right, as a quick recap…. Angina pectoris is chest pain caused by reduced blood flow resulting in a lack of oxygen in the heart muscle. There are three types: stable angina, unstable angina, and vasospastic angina. Rest tends to relieve stable angina, but not the other two types, and all three can be treated with nitroglycerin.
CAD can cause stable angina, unstable angina, myocardial ischemia, [16] and myocardial infarction. [17] A common symptom is angina, which is chest pain or discomfort which may travel into the shoulder, arm, back, neck, or jaw. [4] Occasionally it may feel like heartburn.
Braunwald held the chairmanship until 2010, when he appointed Marc Sabatine to the position. Among the group's most important works is the TIMI Risk Score, which assesses the risk of death and ischemic events in patients with unstable angina (UA) or non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).
Variant angina is caused by vasospasm, a narrowing of the coronary arteries due to contraction of the heart's smooth muscle tissue in the vessel walls. [3] In comparison, stable angina is caused by the permanent occlusion of these vessels by atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of fatty plaque and hardening of the arteries. [4]
ST segment depression and T-wave changes may be seen in patients with unstable angina; Depressed but upsloping ST segment generally rules out ischemia as a cause. Also, it can be a normal variant or artifacts, such as: Pseudo-ST-depression, which is a wandering baseline due to poor skin contact of the electrode [3]