What is Unstable Angina?

Most people in the world are unaware of what is unstable angina? Unstable angina can be described as a health condition, in which your heart does not receive adequate blood flow, as well as oxygen.


Most health experts warn people that unstable angina is like a prelude to a heart attack; people who have an unstable angina are at a very high risk of experiencing a heart attack. Therefore, this is quite a serious condition, which needs to be diagnosed and treated at the earliest.

It has been seen that the risk of unstable angina are much higher in some, as compared to others.


For example, men are more prone to suffering from an unstable angina, as compared to women. Some of the other factors that increase the risks of unstable angina in some people include:

• Progressing age
• Health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure 
• Elevated levels of LDL or the “bad” cholesterol 
• Reduced levels of HDL or the “good” cholesterol
• Leading a sedentary lifestyle 
• Obesity 
• Unhealthy practices like smoking or drinking excess alcohol
  

Unstable Angina Diagnosis

There are several different tests that you may be asked to go through, in order to determine if you are suffering from an unstable angina or not. Some of the tests recommended for unstable angina diagnosis include:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG): Your heartbeat is triggered off by an electrical impulse that has been generated by special heart cells. An ECG records the electrical signals that travel through the heart.

• Stress test: While going through a stress test, you will be required to walk on a treadmill or pedal a cycle. During this time, your doctor will monitor your blood pressure and your heartbeat.

• X ray: Images of your heart and your lungs are taken in a chest x ray, to check for any heart conditions that may have triggered off angina symptoms.

• Cardiac Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan: Images of the chest area are taken during this test, while you lie down in a tubular machine. This test is helpful in determining if your heart is enlarged or if the arteries have become narrow.

Some of the other tests that a doctor may recommend for an unstable angina diagnosis include blood tests, nuclear stress test, coronary angiography and an echocardiogram.

Unstable Angina Symptoms

People suffering from angina problems are likely to suffer from discomfort in the chest area, which includes pain, fullness, squeezing or pressure. However, there are other serious symptoms of unstable angina too that you may experience. Given below are some of the other unstable angina signs and symptoms

• The discomfort is experienced even during periods of rest
• The pain and discomfort is quite severe and can last for a longer period of time, like perhaps even half an hour or so. 
• There is a change in the usual pattern of angina 
• The use of angina medication fails to alleviate the pain and discomfort
  

Unstable angina is a medical emergency, as it could be a signal of a heart attack. Therefore, in case the pain in your chest area lasts for more than a couple of minutes or does not get better in spite of taking medication, it is imperative for you to seek emergency medical attention. In such circumstances, it is not even advisable for you to drive yourself to a medical facility; have someone drive you down there instead.

Unstable Angina Causes 

Unstable angina causes are not unknown. One way by which it is caused is when the plaques or the fatty deposits in the blood vessels rupture. The formation of blood clots in the arteries can also be regarded as one of the instable angina causes, as it decreases the flow of blood to the heart muscle by a great extent. Health conditions like severe anemia can also lead to an unstable angina, especially if you are already suffering from narrowed coronary arteries.

Unstable Angina Treatment

The treatment for unstable angina depends on the severity of the condition and could include medication, surgery and lifestyle changes. The main objective of the treatment is to reduce the severity of the symptoms and o lower the risks of heart attacks.

The medicines that are usually prescribed for patients suffering from unstable angina include:

• Aspirin: Taking some aspirin each day makes it easier for the blood to flow through your narrowed arteries. Your blood does not form clots as easily, which in turn reduces the risks of a heart attack.

• Nitrates: These medicines can help your blood vessels widen and relax, which in turn improves the circulation of blood to your heart.

• Beta blockers: Your blood vessels relax and open up to some extent after taking this medicine, which in turn improves the flow of blood and reduces the possibility of a heart attack.

• Statins: This drug helps to reduce blood cholesterol, which improves the flow of blood to your heart. Statins also help your body reabsorb cholesterol accumulated in the artery walls, thereby reducing blockage
  

Some of the other medication that can also be recommended for the treatment of unstable angina includes ranolazine, ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers. In case these medicines do not bring about the desired results, it may be best for you to undergo surgical procedures such as coronary artery and bypass surgery, angioplasty and stenting. Unstable angina guidelines also include lifestyle changes, like:

• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Quitting unhealthy habits like smoking and drinking excessively 
• Following a nutritious and healthy diet that is low in fat and cholesterol. Also make sure you eat small meals at regular intervals. 
• Getting an adequate amount of exercise each day 
• Alleviating levels of stress, through various techniques like massage, meditation and deep prebaking 
  

Unstable angina is a very serious health condition and should be addressed by a health care provider immediately.