Unstable Angina Treatment in Delhi, India

Unstable angina is a form of angina characterized by a sudden, intense chest pain that occurs even while you're resting. Unstable angina is a clinical condition associated with decreased blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart.

Associated Anatomy of Unstable Angina

Heart, Shoulders, Arms, Jaw

Alternate Name of Unstable Angina

The other alternative name for unstable angina is crescendo angina.

Unstable Angina Causes

The most common cause of unstable angina is the narrowing of the coronary arteries. This narrowing of the artery is mainly caused by plaque or fat deposits inside the wall of the arteries. They decrease the area for the blood to flow and reach the heart. This reduced flow of blood to the heart decreases the oxygen supply to the heart and leads to unstable angina. This condition is known as atherosclerosis, which leads to coronary artery disease, the major cause of unstable angina. Various risk factors increase the chances of coronary artery disease.

Unstable Angina Symptoms

One of the most important signs of unstable angina is pain and discomfort in the chest. These chest pain could be sharp squeezing pain which may sometimes radiate to the extremities, including shoulders, arms, jaws, and neck. Chest pain that occurs even at rest is an indication of unstable angina. The other signs and symptoms of unstable angina are:

• Nausea
• Anxiety
• Sweating
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Unexplained fatigue
• Long duration of chest pain and Chest pain that doesn’t improve even after taking nitroglycerine may indicate progression to heart attack.

Unstable Angina Diagnosis

The differential diagnosis for unstable angina are as follows:

• Acute myocarditis
• Microvascular disease
• Pneumonia
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Tracheobronchitis

Typical Tests of Unstable Angina

The initial diagnosis of unstable angina is determined by the medical history, signs, symptoms, and the patient's physical examination, including the blood pressure. Once the initial diagnosis is established, your doctor may advise additional tests to confirm the diagnosis. These include:

• Blood tests: This is used to detect any damage to the heart muscle
• Electrocardiogram: This is a specific test to check the pattern of your heartbeat that indicates any reduction in blood flow.
• Echocardiography: This test uses an imaging technique to produce images of your heart which is used to detect any problems in the blood flow.
• Stress tests
• Computed tomography angiography: This helps in visualizing the narrowing of the artery.
• Coronary angiography: This is one of the most common tests and important used to diagnose unstable Angina due to coronary artery stenosis.

Unstable Angina Treatment

The management of unstable angina based on the severity of the disease and overall health can be divided into three types

Drug therapy

One of the main therapies advised by the physician includes prescribing blood thinners. These groups of drugs are used to make the blood thin and increase the blood flow through the narrowed artery. The major drugs in this group are aspirin, clopidogrel, and heparin. The other medications that can also be advised to help in relieving the symptoms of unstable angina are:

• Drugs that reduce blood pressure
• Drugs to control cholesterol levels
• Anti-anxiety drugs

Surgery and Procedures

Your doctor may advise more extensive treatment if you have a blockage or significant obstruction in an artery.

• Angioplasty with stenting: Angioplasty is one of these procedures in which a previously blocked artery is opened. This involves the insertion of an artificial tube-like device called a stent to maintain the blood flow in your artery.
• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG): In extreme cases, bypass surgery may be required. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) technique helps increase blood flow to your heart by bypassing blockage.

Lifestyle changes

The long-term management of unstable angina may need to make lifestyle changes. These lifestyle changes are one of the important aspects in the management of unstable angina. These lifestyle changes include:

• Moving to a healthy diet
• Stress reduction exercises and therapies
• Physical activity
• Weight loss
• Quitting smoking

All these lifestyle changes help reduce and manage the symptoms of unstable angina. However, it is always advisable to consult your physician to decide on the exact treatment plan, including the lifestyle changes appropriate for your individual need.

Risk Factors of Unstable Angina

Risk factors for coronary heart disease that eventually increase the chances of unstable angina are:

• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Family history of heart disease
• High blood pressure
• high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
• low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol
• being male
• using any form of tobacco
• leading a sedentary lifestyle.

Complication of Unstable Angina

When you have unstable angina, you might have a heart attack, heart failure, or difficulties with your heart rhythm. Your future is determined by how well your heart is functioning, the severity of your arterial blockages, and whether or not you have had a heart attack.

Prevention of Unstable Angina

The main aspect of primary prevention is to avoid any risk factors that increase your chances of getting unstable angina. These Self-care choices that aren't medical include losing weight, quitting smoking, and exercising more frequently. A healthy lifestyle will protect your heart and decrease your risk of unstable angina attacks in the future.

Epidemiology of Unstable Angina

Coronary artery disease affects a substantial percentage of the population. Over a third of all deaths from coronary heart disease occur among people over 35 years of age. It is the most common cause of death in this age group. Males are affected more frequently than females, but as they become older, the prevalence of males and females becomes closer.

Related Blogs

• Chest Pain: Its Major Reasons & Preventive Lifestyle Changes