Unstable Angina

Question: please help me what is the main difference between acute coronary syndrome, unstable angina and MI? i read from google that unstable angina and myocardial infarction are subtype of acute coronary syndrome.how ???????

Answer: Acute coronary syndrome covers a lot of diseases of the heart, they begin with that and do a workup. Unstable angina is chest pain associated with coronary artery disease that occurres randomly by vessels that are becoming narrowed due to atherosclerosis, and needs medicine to control, like nitroglycerin. A myocardial infarction indicates that a blood vessel in the heart has become blocked, either by becoming too narrow to let blood through or because of a clot. This is the most serious because it can cause parts of the heart not getting blood to stop working properly. Sometimes it can be helped with putting in a stent, sometimes it can be so bad one would need bypass surgery to provide blood flow to that part of the heart.

Question: Does unstable angina follow angina? Or can you just have unstable angina first? Also What exactly does it feel like. Also Pain scale 1-10 10 being worst

Answer: unstable angina can follow stable angina or can present itself first.- the critheria to determine that an angina is unstable are: - pain with the caracteristics of an angina that lasts more than 30 minutes.- - angina that debutates in a functional class three or four (3: appears to minimal exercises, like dressing or brushing theeth; 4 appears at rest) - angina post infartion.- - stable angina that in the last month changes it caracterists to a higher functional class (3 or 4).- those are the four types of unstable angina.- unstable angina feels the same that stable angina.- these are the caracteristics of it: it starts with exercise or at rest (depending on the funtional class).- calms with rest or nitrites.- it's opressive.- it's located in the chest and irradiates to neck, left arm, teeth or wrists.- in a pain scale it's variable, depends on the patient can go from 4 to 10.- usually is accompained by neurovegetative reaction.- hope this helps.-

Question: what are the investigations and treatments for unstable angina?

Answer: investigation's include angiograms(the doctor will put a dye into your veins and get a good view of the damage to your veins or arteries that surround the myocardium(heart) if the damage is severe he will almost certainly attempt to fix the damage by a procedure called angioplasty, this procedure involves the surgeon putting a stent through your femoral artery and up into your heart, the surgeon directs the stent into the damaged artery and then blows it up using bar pressure, the stent opens up like a small straw like tunnel and the blood flows 100% better around the heart preventing further pain or problems, the stent is coated with a drug called heparin(anti coagulant)that stops the blood trying to form a clot on the invading stent. the procedure is very simple and is normally done whilst you are awake, it has a 99.9% success rate and is painless.. good luck

Question: do patients with untreated stable angina ultimately develop unstable angina leading to myocardial infarction?

Answer: No, there are people who suffer with angina all there lives and develop no other heart problems. My mother has had sable angina for over 30 years. It does however mean that you are at a much higher risk of developing myocardial infarction than some one who does not have it. David http://health-pictures.com/conditions1/angina-pectoris.htm

Question: Is Unstable Angina Curable? Please can some1 tell me whether unstable angina is completely curable or whether it has degrees of curabilty? I also want to know whether the patient has a high risk of getting MI and ultimately dying?? PLEAASEE Help me out

Answer: You can have stable angina - which occurs at predictable times such as when you are climbing stairs or feeling stressed. It doesn't occur when you are resting. Or you can have unstable angina, - which is not predictable. It can occur anytime and lasts longer than a stable angina attack typically does. It is a sign that you are at risk of a heart attack in the near future. TREATMENT It may not be curable but it can be treated. If you have angina you will likely be on medications to prevent or relieve attacks. Nitroglycerin sprays, tablets, patches, or ointments help dilate the blood vessels to improve blood flow to the heart. You may want to carry a nitroglycerin spray with you at all times. Beta blockers reduce the heart rate and blood pressure. Calcium channel blockers dilate blood vessels and slow the heart rate. You may also take medications to prevent blood clots, lower blood pressure, and improve your cholesterol. Make sure you take your medications as directed by your doctor. Angina is a condition that should be supervised by a doctor. For more information on chest pain/angina and living with heart diseases, see www.smart-heart-living.com

Question: Is a NSTEMI just unstable angina? if it is, why is it considered an MI - (NSTE)MI - cos its transcient? Or am I wrong altogether, if you can answer this, can u pls contrast it with a STEMI - thanks thanks thanks Ok, so they are the same, but ecg changes show dif, what is the dif in treating the 2 then?

Answer: they are two totally different things.. angina is the lack of oxygen supply to the coronary arteries resulting to chest pain.. it is called unstable because the chest pain may occur with either stress or at rest... now, MI is not just simply lack of oxygen but a complete blockage of the coronary arteries therefore causing chest pain too. so from the point distal to the blockage, since no blood is getting there, it may result to myocardial necrosis and this may show in the ekg as the ST elevation part which shows with most MI's.. but in some cases, the ST elevation won't show.. these are called the NON-STEMI..

Question: Can unstable angina display symptoms not involving pain, as in light-headedness, weakness, and slight nausea? My friend who had a heart attack 5 weeks ago felt fine for the first 4 weeks, but over this last week he notices he'll suddenly get a slight feeling of weakness, light-headedness, fatigue, yawning, and once in a while an ever slight nauseous feeling. His blood pressure reading lately has been somewhat low (100/60). He is on beta blockers, statins, ace inhibitors, and aspirin. He also takes a daily water pill he was on previous to his heart attack. Again, he is not feeling any painful sensations, and the above listed symptoms come and go at random. He did use the nitro spray a couple times, and that only brought on a whole new set of side effects, none of which were very pleasant. (headache, more light-headedness, fatigue, etc.) However, the slight feelingsof nauseousnous and indegestion would eventually disappear with or without the spray. My question is, do you think he is having a latent negative reaction to his BP meds, or are these symptoms of unstable angina? Thanks!

Answer: Sounds like a reaction to the medications, but it wouldnt hurt to give his cardiologist a call and run the symptoms by he/she just to be clear. With the recent heart attack I dont think this action would be an overreaction at all. I would be searching for answering on yahoo answers, this is for a cardiologist to answer. Just my opinion. Good luck!

Question: Do I have angina, Or unstable angina? Two nights ago I do not know when but I vaguely remember Having a sharp pain that was pulsing randomly but frequently 1-4 seconds while I was sleeping or slightly awake. It kind of pulsed but not with my heart rate. It sometimes it would be like (pain scale 1-10) a 4 and then lower to a 2 then back to a 4 then to no pain for a couple seconds then back to a 4 or a 2... ect. I do not know how long it lasted because I was half asleep Its fine today and this also happens sometimes when im awake. I have alot of anxiety and stress but can that cause it in the middle of the night? I had an 2 ekgs within the last 8 months most recent maybe 1 and 1/2 to 2 months ago for heart palpations. I also had a couple chest x-rays. The results came back fine but I had Tachycardia sinus(fast heart rate) but that was only b/c I was extremely nervous They said it was anxiety and they slowly went away. Last night it was fine. Im very worried because I read unstable angina means a heart attack is coming soon. Im scared to go to sleep I just want to stay awake. I know you will say go to a doctor but my parents think its just anxiety and are getting sick of paying for it because I have been to almost 14 doctors or walk in clinics in the past 18 months all for different reasons. I used to smoke allot of marijuana like almost everyday for about 1 1/2 years but the past 4-7 months I have cut down to only about 1 or 2 hits every 5 days and its out of a vaporizer so there is no carcinogens. ps im 19 but I used to eat very unhealthy but now I eat healthier I weigh 190 I am 5 foot 11 1/2. I am under alot of stress. My roommated passed away over the summer and a couple night ago my dog ran away.(we just got her back today :-D) P.S My dad is 52 and he eats very unhealthy he drinks alot and smokes about a pack of cigs a day and rarely exercies and he had a full body mri about 2 years ago and everthing was perfect. (I dono if they checked his heart) NOONE in my immediate or relatives have ever had heart problems. Thank you for taking your time to read this I really appreciate it.

Answer: You need a hobby. Here's the news. You have NEITHER angina nor unstable angina. Stop obsessing over your health. You are healthy! (Other than your anxiety disorder) Rejoice! Get out and live your life. While substances like MJ relax you immediately, withdrawal from them tend to leave you more anxious. The same with alcohol. And don't even think about Coke or Meth. Make an appointment with a primary care provider. Plan on discussing a plan (that you will stick with) to get your anxiety (and probably insomnia) under better control. Maybe with counseling or medications or with a combination of both. Perhaps try meditation, too. Next, get out and engage in some physically active thing you enjoy. If you are not out of breath and sweating, you didn't do it long enough or vigorously enough. Finally stop surfing the net looking for diagnoses and stop going to all of those doctors. Its a waste of everyone's time. Medical professionals can not quickly dismiss you and MUST take you seriously, thus feeding into you sense that this is real. It is not.

Question: Anyone been taken to hospital with unstable angina? If so, i need your knowledge!? Hello, i'm a student nurse. I'm writing an essay which talks about stable angina and how it effects quality of life. I understand with stable angina, that it is normally treat with nitrates/aspirin/beta blockers. Pain usually occurs if strenuous activity is undertaken. However....what i need to know is: Has anyone has an angina attack at rest, where they have had to be rushed into hospital with unstable angina? If so, what happened at the hospital? How did they treat it? They probably gave u an ECG. Did they immediately increase your medications? How did they mangae your pain relief? I really need someone to tell me their experience from hospital admission, so i can understand the stages of care you received! I'd be so grateful! Help! :)

Answer: Unstable angina can basically occur at anytime- even at rest. If one is having an episode, they should take their Glyceryl Trinitrate spray or tablets. GTN usually takes about a minute to work. If the first dose does not work, a second dose should be taken after five minutes. If the pain persists for 10 minutes despite taking GTN, then medical attention should be sought. If GTN is failing to relieve pain, this could point towards an MI. All chest pain that continues past 10 minutes should generally be evaluated When you reach hospital you would be given an ECG + a blood test to measure troponin. Troponin is released into the blood stream if there is damage to heart muscle cells- generally caused by an MI. If these tests are positive, this will confirm an MI. For pain you'd be given 2.5-5 mg diamorphine or 5-10 mg morphine with an anti-emetic as required. With unstable angina + non-Q wave infarction the ECG typically shows T wave inversion or ST segment depression. Mediaction adjustments would be made. In addition to the medication you mentioned; ACE inhibitors are sometimes prescribed to people with angina who have a reduced function of the left ventricle or who have had a heart attack. Nitrates and antiplatlets are also prescribed. If medication fails to control symptoms then Coronary revascularisation/coronary angiogram will probably be the next step- certainly if one has had an MI.

Question: had heart attack had a stent put in got conary heart disiese now got unstable angina can i claim disabilty?

Answer: If you are currently working and have unstable angina. You will need to get a sick note off your GP and will be entitled to sickness benefit from you employer. If your employer does not pay you sickness benefit you will be entitled to claim incapacity benefit/income support from the DWP (department for Work and Pensions). Furthermore, there is also another benefit you might be eligible for called disability living allowance. There are 2 different components to this benefit. The mobility and the care component. If you have problems with mobility and cannot walk more than 50 metres without feeling severe discomfort and/or pain eg. breathlesness, needing to use your GTN spray etc. Then you may qualify for the high rate mobility. If you have personal care needs eg. with washing, dressing, unable to cook a meal you may also qualify for the care component. I am a welfare rights advisor and have been successful in obtaining these benefits for many people in your situation.

Question: unstable angina? angina when asleep or watching tv any info on treatment ... I have to do nothing to get it.........yet some suffers dig the garden for an hour or two then get it??? I can do a whole aerobic workout and a run and feel fine??? Dr Frank you are brill. I take at 47years old. Valsartan 40mg,Atorvastatin 80mg, Nicorandil 10mg, Amlodipine 5mg, Atenolol 25mg, Asprin 75mg. Had angeogram

Answer: In 2008 the best option is probably intervention, unless there are any absolute contraindications. You need a coronary angiogram to pinpoint the problem area(s). Depending on the appearance it would then be determined if angioplasty and stent or bypass is the better option. If intervention were considered too risky for any reason then progressive add on of anti-anginal therapies until the patient is asymptomatic or there are significant side effects. These would include nitrates, beta blockers, nicorandil, etc.

Question: Do I have unstable angina? Last night I do not know when but I vaguely remember Having a sharp pain that was pulsing randomly but frequently 1-4 seconds while I was sleeping or slightly awake.Its fine today and this also happens sometimes when im awake. I have alot of anxiety and stress but can that cause it in the middle of the night? I had an 2 ekgs within the last 8 months most recent maybe 1 and 1/2 to 2 months ago for heart palpations. The results came back fine but I had Tachycardia sinus(fast heart rate) but that was only b/c I was extremely nervous They said it was anxiety and they slowly went away. Its 4:30 am and im scared to go to sleep because i heard unstable angina says a heart attack is close. Also I woke up with night sweats my bed was wet where i was laying. BUT NOTE that this happens allot when I sleep under my quilt and I am also on zoloft 150mg(can cause that), I also slept with socks on. the night sweats have been happening for almost 2 years like this. I think its from zoloft. Please help ps im 19 but I used to ear very unhealthy not I eat healthier I weigh 190 I am 5 foot 11 1/2.

Answer: Oddly enough yes, ..- it is quite possible that the pains might 'just' be angina, but only just, because most angina doesn't 'pulse' -(it's just a dull, hostile 'ache'. And secondly most angina pains are physical-stress-related, coming on when you're doing work, and easing off when you stop. Having said that, there IS a condition in which pressure on a particular conduit artery supplying blood to the heart can restrict blood flow to the heart. This can arise because you're lying in a particular posture in bed. or sitting a certain way in a chair... Mine did, and in the end my heart attack came in bed in the early hours of the morning, -for just this reason. You can tell if it's angina if the pain is relieved with a TNT inhaler (from your doctor). But it's simply not correct to say " a heart attack is close" just because of angina. Angina IS a precursor of heart attacks, simply because it's a symptom. But a dynamic stress test under a Bruce Protocol will give a better idea of your risk, as would a 24-hr holter monitor record (both BP, pulse, and EKG). Incidentally, it isn't really "unstable". It's called this by doctors because it occurs at times which don't fit their predictable (and treatable) usual stress-patterns of blocked arteries, and so from their point of view appear to be random, or 'unstable' ..

Question: Do I have unstable angina? Please help? Last night I do not know when but I vaguely remember Having a sharp pain that was pulsing randomly but frequently 1-4 seconds while I was sleeping or slightly awake.Its fine today and this also happens sometimes when im awake. I have alot of anxiety and stress but can that cause it in the middle of the night? I had an 2 ekgs within the last 8 months most recent maybe 1 and 1/2 to 2 months ago for heart palpations. The results came back fine but I had Tachycardia sinus(fast heart rate) but that was only b/c I was extremely nervous They said it was anxiety and they slowly went away. Its 4:30 am and im scared to go to sleep because i heard unstable angina says a heart attack is close. Please help ps im 19 but I used to ear very unhealthy not I eat healthier I weigh 190 I am 5 foot 11 1/2.

Answer: Hopper, An EKG may not be sufficient to diagnose the problem. I would recommend a heart stress test or heart cath, or starting a medication like Plavix. Your problem, if it exists, does not originate in the heart. It originates in the veins and arteries leading to the heart. Here is the url of a web page that explains it a little better. http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/coronar… Hope this helps. Good luck!

Question: can unstable angina be diagnosed with a stress test?

Answer: No, because with unstable angina the chest pain is occurring at rest

Question: could one or more explain unstable angina as I lived a long time with it not suspecting heart decease.? had heart attack and surgery, and never had chest pain in my life

Answer: Unstable angina occurs with lesser degrees of exertion or while at rest. This type increases in frequency and duration and worsens in severity. It requires immediate medical attention. Unstable angina that occurs at rest is the most serious form. This type usually is caused by the formation of a blood clot at the site of a ruptured plaque in a coronary artery. If left untreated, it can result in heart attack and irreversible damage to the heart. You can email me if you still have questions. Hope this helps.

Question: What is angina? Does that affect the heart badly? I have mitral valve regurgitation and palpitations badly and a dull type of pain in the center of my chest. Also, what is unstable angina? I need more info. on that as well. I sometimes have to take deep breaths and I have to try to relax when I do have any dull pain and my fingers get all cold and my nausea comes and goes.

Answer: Hello, Angina Pectoris is a chest pain due to a lack of oxygen because of a lack of blood supply to a certain area of the Myocardium ( Heart muscle ), and of course it will affect the Heart because if an Angina is not treated soon enough it will become a Heart Attack. When the Myocardium is not getting enough oxygen, the Heart muscle begins to die and as a result causes an Infarct ( death of tissue ). Mitral Regurgitation means leaking of the valve, so the blood that suppose to go to the left Ventricle is going back to the the left Atrium again because of the regurgitation, this is called back flow of the blood and that's why you are experiencing palpitations, is because the Ventricle needs to pump blood according to the body demand, since there is a big blood amount of blood in the Atrium and the ventricle because of the regurgitation the Ventricle becomes exited and begins to pump faster because it has to deal with a bigger amount of blood. The treatment is usually replacement of the valve but is according to the degree of the valve opening, if it is a mild regurgitation surgery is not necessary. Unstable Angina is a condition where patients experience chest pain for a period of time, it could be prolonged up to 60 days and, if it worsen it could be fatal, it could become a MI ( Heart attack ). because is unstable is dangerous and patients need to be on medication as well for Mitral regurgitation. Hopefully this information has been helpful for you.