Overview
Unstable angina is one of the components of Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS). Unstable angina is an emergency condition and you should seek immediate medical treatment. If this conditionleft untreated, unstable angina can lead to heart attack, heart failure, or arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms). This can be life-threatening conditions.Signs and Symptoms
Chest pain that feels crushing & squeezing , Pain that radiates to your upper extremities (usually on the left side) or back , Nausea , Anxiety , Sweating , Shortness of breath , Dizziness , Unexplained fatigueCommon Causes
Atherosclerosis , Microvascular dysfunction , Coronary artery spasmRisk Factors
Non modifiable: Inreasing age, Family history of IHD, Modifiable: smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, obesity, sedentary lifestylesInvestigation Techniques
Full blood count, Cardiac enzymes (creatine phosphokinase and myoglobin), ECG, Echocardiography, Stress tests, Coronary angiographyTreatment and Prevention
Modify risk factors, Optimize cardioprotective medications: antiplatelet agents (eg, aspirin), lipid-lowering statin agents (eg, simvastatin), cardiovascular antiplatelet agents (eg, tirofiban), beta blockers (eg, atenolol), anticoagulants (eg, heparin or low-molecular-weight heparins [LMWHs), thrombin inhibitors (eg, bivalirudin), nitrates (eg, nitroglycerin IV), calcium channel blockers (nifedipine), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) (eg, captopril), RevascularizationPsychological Issues
Depression , Stress , Anxiety