A narrowing of coronary vessels. blood supply to myocardium unable to meet demands during times of high demand, i.e. exercise.

Angina is “stable” when symptoms are always relieved by rest or glyceryl trinitrate (GTN). It is “unstable” when the symptoms come on randomly whilst at rest, and this is considered as an Acute Coronary Syndrome.

PC:

• Constricting chest pain
• +/- radiation to arm/jaw
• fatigue
• dizziness
• SOB
• palpitations
• sweating

NICE define anginal pain as the following:

• 1. constricting discomfort in the front of the chest, or in the neck, shoulders, jaw or arms
• 2. precipitated by physical exertion
• 3. relieved by rest or GTN in about 5 minutes
• patients with all 3 features have typical angina
• patients with 2 of the above features have atypical angina
• patients with 1 or none of the above features have non-anginal chest pain