Stable and Unstable Angina

Physicians distinguish between stable and unstable angina

Stable Angina

Occurs during exercise or stress, and is relieved with a nitrate spray or tablet.

Ustable Angina

Occurs at rest, or is unrelieved by the usual medication, a patient with pains that is increasing in frequency or severity is also said to have ''unstable angina''.

Unstable angina is very predictive of a future heart attack, and requires immediate medical attention.

These are the questions that you will be asked by your doctor to determine if you have stable or unstable angina.

1. Quality- How does it feel?
2. Location- Where does it bother you?
3. Severity- How bad is it? on a scale from one to ten how would you describe it?
4. Provocation- What brings on the situation? Exertion? Cold? At rest?
5. Onset- does it come suddenly or gradually?
6. Relieving factors- What reduces or eliminates the pain?
7. Frequency- how often does it occur?
8. Association- Do you have any problems along with it?
9. Duration- How does it last?

If You Think You May Have Angina

If you do think you may have angina pains regardless if it is stable or unstable angina pains.don't delay, it is better to be safe and healthy then sorry and…

Being brave and disregarding the pains and symptoms of angina can be extremely detrimental. If the symptoms are real and the underlying cause is coronary heart disease delaying can cause a heart attack.

If a heart attack does occur nearly 50% of those attacked never make it, and those that do, their hearts are damaged for ever.

Why take the chance? Call a doctor or an ambulance immediately it is better being safe then dead.