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