This type of disease - a fairly rare phenomenon, characteristic for the age of 30 to 50 years. Vasospastic angina refers to the unstable form of this pathology, its manifestations are poorly predictable, which creates certain difficulties in the development of therapeutic measures.
Vasospastic angina of Prinzmetal
This disease is also called spontaneous or variant angina. It is caused by spasms of the coronary arteries, which nourish the heart muscle. As a rule, it is caused by atherosclerotic plaques on the internal walls of the blood vessels and sclerosis of the mucous tissue.
The main cause of the development of the disease is the narrowing of the artery lumen due to excessive contraction of the smooth muscles of the vessel. As a result of this process, the flow of blood to the heart suddenly decreases, which can lead to an attack and even death.
Angina pectoris - symptoms
The only sign of pathology is a bout of pain, which has the following characteristics:
- occurs at night, during the period from midnight to 7-8 am;
- appears in a state of rest and is not provoked by physical stresses or increased pressure;
- localized in the zone behind the breastbone and gives into the arm, shoulder blade, shoulder, sometimes irides in the jaw;
- lasts from 5 to 25-30 minutes;
- rarely accompanied by syncope ;
- causes a feeling of squeezing, chest compressions;
- repeated every night for several weeks or months;
- disappears after taking one tablet of nitroglycerin.
Prestmetal's Vasospastic Angina - Diagnosis
Precisely to make the diagnosis it is possible exclusively during an attack, because the rest of the period is not informative.
Prinzmetal's stenocardia on the ECG is manifested as an increase in the ST-segment indicators. In addition, electrocardiography is additionally carried out using Holter (daily) monitoring. In the course of the study, continuous ECG recording is performed in the mode of normal vital activity of the patient. Diagnosis is performed by means of a portable device that contacts the human skin through adhesive electrodes. It is also recommended to keep a diary of sensations, noting in it changes in the heart and the occurrence of pain in the performance of any action.
Another way is coronarography. With the help of this type of laboratory tests, it is possible to reliably estimate the degree of damage to the blood vessels by atherosclerotic plaques.
Prizmetal's Vasospastic Angina Treatment
Therapy is mainly aimed at excluding disease-provoking factors. These include smoking, frequent stress, emotional stress and hypothermia.
To eliminate symptoms, vasospastic angina is exposed to medicamentous effects:
- nitrate-containing preparations;
- aspirin group of agents and disaggregants;
- calcium antagonists;
- alpha-blockers;
- antagonists of heparin.
Depending on the root cause of the disease, a comprehensive treatment scheme is selected with individual selection of medications. This approach allows you to reduce the viscosity and density of blood, prevent oxygen starvation of the heart muscle,
Naturally, the patient needs to contribute to recovery:
- Abandon the use of alcohol and other bad habits.
- Spend at least 8 hours of rest per day.
- Engage in moderate physical activity.
- Restore the nervous system.
- Avoid stress .
- Correct the diet.