Signs of Unstable angina (Pre heart attack chest pain)

Description

Chest pain that is caused by the heart not being supplied enough blood. Stable angina is pain that occurs with a fixed amount of exercise. Unstable angina is pain that occurs with increasingly less exertion, or at rest. The disorder is very serious since it is a warning sign of an imminent heart attack. Untreated it can lead to rapid death. Treatment is a true emergency.

Symptoms

Chest pain (the pain can also be in the shoulder, back, arm, jaw or abdomen), chest pain that occurs at rest or with increasing less exertion, shortness of breath, sweating, fainting, nausea, vomiting. The chest pain may be described as tightness, squeezing, crushing, burning, choking, or aching.

Tests

A history and physical exam will be performed. Tests to diagnose and define the extent of the disease will be done. A coronary angiogram identifies the blocked artery.

Standard Workup

CBC
Chem 12
Troponin
X-Ray
EKG

Treatment

Therapy is directed at relieving the pain by increasing the blood supply to the heart. Treatment includes: antiplatelet drugs (aspirin, clopidogrel/Plavix, abciximab/ReoPro, tirofiban/Aggrastat, eptifibatide/Integrilin) heparin, nitroglycerin, blood pressure medications (beta-blockers), cholesterol medications, supplemental oxygen, angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft. For more information contact the American Heart Association: (800)242-8721