Why is unstable angina a medical emergency

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Unstable Angina. Medically reviewed by Graham Rogers, M. You may also feel pain in other parts of your body, such as: shoulders neck back arms The pain is due to inadequate blood supply to your heart muscle, which deprives your heart of oxygen. There are two types of angina: stable and unstable.

What causes unstable angina? Who is at risk for unstable angina? What are the symptoms of unstable angina? How is unstable angina diagnosed? How is unstable angina treated? How can I prevent unstable angina? Read this next. Unstable angina is a type of chest pain or discomfort that occurs when there is a severe restriction of the blood flow to the heart. It typically occurs when a person is resting or sleeping or after a small amount of physical exertion. It can also occur when stable angina symptoms worsen over time.

Symptoms can also include chest pain or chest pressure, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and vomiting.

Females with unstable angina may experience abdominal pain, anxiety, and sharp chest pain alongside the other symptoms. A person should contact a healthcare professional if they experience any symptoms of unstable angina, as it is a medical emergency. Read this article in Spanish.

Angina is pain, squeezing, or pressure in the chest. It signals that too little oxygen is reaching the heart. Learn more here, including when to seek…. Heart disease is a major cause of death. In this article, learn about the different types, how to recognize the symptoms, and what treatment to expect.

Here, learn about the structure of the heart, what each part does, and how it works to support the body. We also explore the electrical impulses and…. Stable angina causes pain, squeezing, or tightness in the chest, usually when someone is stressed or doing physical activity. Narrowed arteries or…. What is unstable angina, and what are its symptoms? Medically reviewed by Dr. Payal Kohli, M. Definition Symptoms Stable vs. What is unstable angina? What is the difference between stable and unstable angina?

What can increase the risk of developing unstable angina? When to contact a doctor. Heart Disease. Latest news Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. The pain may spread down the left shoulder and arm and to other areas , such as the back, jaw, neck, or right arm.

Unstable angina has symptoms similar to a heart attack. What should you do if you think you are having a heart attack? If you have symptoms of a heart attack, act fast. Quick treatment could save your life. If your doctor has prescribed nitroglycerin for angina: Take 1 dose of nitroglycerin and wait 5 minutes. If your symptoms don't improve or if they get worse, call or other emergency services. Describe your symptoms, and say that you could be having a heart attack.

Stay on the phone. The emergency operator will tell you what to do. The operator may tell you to chew 1 adult-strength or 2 to 4 low-dose aspirin. Aspirin helps keep blood from clotting, so it may help you survive a heart attack. If you do not have nitroglycerin: Call or other emergency services now. How is a heart attack treated? You may be given: Aspirin and other medicines to prevent blood clots. Medicines that break up blood clots thrombolytics. Medicines to decrease the heart's workload and ease pain.

It can detect signs of poor blood flow, heart muscle damage, abnormal heartbeats, and other heart problems. Blood tests, including tests to see whether cardiac enzymes are high. Having these enzymes in the blood is usually a sign that the heart has been damaged. Cardiac catheterization , if the other tests show that you may be having a heart attack. This test shows which arteries are blocked and how your heart is working.

Can you prevent a heart attack? To improve your heart health: Don't smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke. Quitting smoking can quickly reduce the risk of another heart attack or death. Eat a heart-healthy diet that includes plenty of fish, fruits, vegetables, beans, high-fiber grains and breads, and olive oil. Get regular exercise. Your doctor can suggest a safe level of exercise for you.

Stay at a healthy weight. Lose weight if you need to. Manage other health problems such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Lower your stress level. Stress can damage your heart. If you have talked about it with your doctor, take a low-dose aspirin every day. Health Tools Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health.

Decision Points focus on key medical care decisions that are important to many health problems. Actionsets are designed to help people take an active role in managing a health condition. Interactive tools are designed to help people determine health risks, ideal weight, target heart rate, and more. Cause A heart attack or unstable angina is caused by sudden narrowing or blockage of a coronary artery. Heart attack triggers In most cases, there are no clear reasons why heart attacks occur when they do.

Rare causes In rare cases, the coronary artery spasms and contracts, causing heart attack symptoms. How does the heart work? What do the coronary arteries do? Symptoms Heart attack Symptoms of a heart attack include: Chest pain or pressure, or a strange feeling in the chest.

Unstable angina Unstable angina symptoms are similar to a heart attack. People who have unstable angina often describe their symptoms as: Different from their typical pattern of stable angina. Their symptoms do not happen at a predictable time.

Suddenly becoming more frequent, severe, or longer-lasting or being brought on by less exertion than before. Occurring at rest with no obvious exertion or stress. Some say these symptoms may wake you up. Not responding to rest or nitroglycerin. Women's symptoms For men and women, the most common symptom is chest pain or pressure. What Increases Your Risk Things that increase your risk of a heart attack are the things that lead to a problem called atherosclerosis , or hardening of the arteries.

Things that increase your risk of a heart attack include: High cholesterol. High blood pressure. A family history of early heart disease. Early heart disease means you have a male family member who was diagnosed before age 55 or a female family member who was diagnosed before age Women and heart disease Women have unique risk factors for heart disease, including hormone therapy and pregnancy-related problems.

When To Call Do not wait if you think you are having a heart attack. These may include: Chest pain or pressure, or a strange feeling in the chest. Why wait for an ambulance? CPR If you witness a person become unconscious, call or other emergency services and start CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Exams and Tests Emergency testing for a heart attack After you call for a heart attack, paramedics will quickly assess your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate.

Testing after a heart attack From 2 to 3 days after a heart attack or after being admitted to the hospital for unstable angina, you may have more tests. These tests may include: Echocardiogram echo. An echo is used to find out several things about the heart, including its size, thickness, movement, and blood flow. Stress electrocardiogram such as treadmill testing.

This test compares your ECG while you are at rest to your ECG after your heart has been stressed, either through physical exercise treadmill or bike or by using a medicine.

Stress echocardiogram. A stress echocardiogram can show whether you may have reduced blood flow to the heart. Cardiac perfusion scan. This test is used to estimate the amount of blood reaching the heart muscle during rest and exercise. Cardiac catheterization.

In this test, a dye contrast material is injected into the coronary arteries to evaluate your heart and coronary arteries. Cardiac blood pool scan. This test shows how well your heart is pumping blood to the rest of your body.

Cholesterol test. This test shows the amounts of cholesterol in your blood. Treatment Overview Do not wait if you think you are having a heart attack. For unstable angina, treatment prevents a heart attack. For a heart attack, treatment limits the damage to your heart.

Ambulance and emergency room Treatment begins in the ambulance and emergency room. Treatment includes: Nitroglycerin. It opens up the arteries of the heart to help blood flow back to the heart. These drugs lower the heart rate, blood pressure, and the workload of the heart. You might be given: Aspirin , which you chew as soon as possible after calling Antiplatelet medicine. Angioplasty or surgery Angioplasty. Other treatment in the hospital After a heart attack, you will stay in the hospital for at least a few days.

Examples include: Aldosterone receptor antagonists. Angiotensin-converting enzyme ACE inhibitors. Antiplatelet medicines. Statins and other cholesterol medicines. Cardiac rehabilitation Cardiac rehabilitation might be started in the hospital or soon after you go home. Go to your doctor visits Your doctor will want to closely watch your health after a heart attack. Prevention You can help prevent a heart attack by taking steps that slow or prevent coronary artery disease —the main risk factor for a heart attack.

Make lifestyle changes Quit smoking. It may be the best thing you can do to prevent heart disease. You can start lowering your risk right away by quitting smoking. Also, avoid secondhand smoke. Being active is good for your heart and blood vessels, as well as the rest of your body. Being active helps lower your risk of health problems. And it helps you feel good. Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes on most, if not all, days of the week.

Talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program. Fitness: Getting and Staying Active Eat a heart-healthy diet. The way you eat can help you lower your risk. There are a few heart-healthy eating plans to choose from. Remember that some foods you may hear about are just fads that don't prevent heart disease at all.

Comparing Heart-Healthy Diets Reach and stay at a healthy weight. A healthy weight is a weight that lowers your risk for health problems including heart disease. Eating heart-healthy foods and being active can help you manage your weight and lower your risk. Weight Management Manage other health problems Manage other health problems that raise your risk for a heart attack. Manage stress and get help for depression Manage stress.

Stress can hurt your heart. Keep stress low by talking about your problems and feelings, rather than keeping your feelings hidden. Get help for depression. Getting treatment for depression can help you stay healthy. Deciding whether to take aspirin Talk to your doctor before you start taking aspirin every day. Preventing Another Heart Attack After you've had a heart attack, your biggest concern will probably be that you could have another one.

Do cardiac rehab You might have started cardiac rehab in the hospital or soon after you got home. Make heart-healthy habits If you don't do a cardiac rehab program, you will still need to learn about lifestyle changes that can lower your risk of another heart attack. For more information on lifestyle changes, see Life After a Heart Attack. Take your medicines After having a heart attack, take all of your medicines correctly.

You might take medicines to: Prevent blood clots. These medicines include aspirin and other blood thinners. Decrease the workload on your heart beta-blocker.

Lower cholesterol. Treat irregular heartbeats. Lower blood pressure. For more information, see Medications. Life After a Heart Attack Coming home after a heart attack may be unsettling. Do cardiac rehab Cardiac rehabilitation rehab teaches you how to be more active and make lifestyle changes that can lead to a stronger heart and better health. Learn healthy habits Making healthy lifestyle changes can reduce your chance of another heart attack. Medicines Take all of your medicines correctly.

In the ambulance and emergency room Treatment for a heart attack or unstable angina begins with medicines in the ambulance and emergency room. You may receive: Morphine for pain relief.

Oxygen therapy to increase oxygen in your blood. Nitroglycerin to open up the arteries to the heart to help blood to flow to the heart. Beta-blockers to lower the heart rate, blood pressure, and the workload of the heart. In the hospital and at home In the hospital, your doctors will start you on medicines that lower your risk of having complications or another heart attack.

Medicine to lower blood pressure and the heart's workload Angiotensin-converting enzyme ACE inhibitors Angiotensin II receptor blockers ARBs Beta-blockers You might take other medicines if you have another heart problem, such as heart failure.

Medicine to prevent blood clots from forming and causing another heart attack Aspirin Antiplatelet medicines Medicine to lower cholesterol Statins Other cholesterol medicines, such as ezetimibe, may be used along with a statin.

Medicine to manage angina symptoms Nitroglycerin Beta-blockers Calcium channel blockers Ranolazine Ranexa What to think about You may have regular blood tests to monitor how the medicine is working in your body.

Surgery An angioplasty procedure or bypass surgery might be done to open blocked arteries and improve blood flow to the heart. Angioplasty Angioplasty. Bypass surgery Bypass surgery. Cardiac rehabilitation After you have had angioplasty or bypass surgery, you may be encouraged to take part in a cardiac rehabilitation program to help lower your risk of death from heart disease.

Treatment for Complications Heart attacks that damage critical or large areas of the heart tend to cause more problems complications later. The most common complications are: Heart rhythm problems, called arrhythmias. These include heart block , atrial fibrillation , ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. Heart failure , which can be short-term or can become a lifelong condition.

Scar tissue eventually replaces the areas of heart muscle that are damaged by a heart attack. Scar tissue affects your heart's ability to pump as well as it should. Damage to the left ventricle can lead to heart failure. Heart valve disease. Pericarditis , which is an inflammation around the outside of the heart. Treatment for heart rhythm problems If the heart attack caused an arrhythmia, you may take medicines or you may need a cardiac device such as a pacemaker.

For information on different types of arrhythmias, see: Atrial Fibrillation. Bradycardia Slow Heart Rate.