Angina (cont.)
Medical Author:
John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEPJohn P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey. Medical Editor:
Daniel Lee Kulick, MD, FACC, FSCAI
Daniel Lee Kulick, MD, FACC, FSCAIDr. Kulick received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Southern California, School of Medicine. He performed his residency in internal medicine at the Harbor-University of California Los Angeles Medical Center and a fellowship in the section of cardiology at the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology. Medical Editor:
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACRDr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. In this Article
 What causes angina?
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The most common cause of angina is coronary artery disease. A less common cause of angina is spasm of the coronary arteries. Coronary artery disease Coronary arteries supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle. Coronary artery disease develops as cholesterol is deposited in the artery wall, causing the formation of a hard, thick substance called cholesterol plaque. The accumulation of cholesterol plaque over time causes narrowing of the coronary arteries, a process called arteriosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis can be accelerated by smoking, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and diabetes. When coronary arteries become narrowed by more than 50% to 70%, they may no longer be able to meet the increased blood oxygen demand by the heart muscle during exercise or stress. Lack of oxygen to the heart muscle causes chest pain (angina). Coronary artery spasm The walls of the arteries are surrounded by muscle fibers. Rapid contraction of these muscle fibers causes a sudden narrowing (spasm) of the arteries. A spasm of the coronary arteries reduces blood to the heart muscle and causes angina. Angina as a result of a coronary artery spasm is called "variant" angina or Prinzmetal angina (vasospastic). Prinzmetal angina typically occurs at rest, usually in the early morning hours. Spasms can occur in normal coronary arteries as well as in those narrowed by arteriosclerosis. Coronary artery spasm can also be caused by use of cocaine. The spasm of the artery wall caused by cocaine can be so significant that it can actually cause a heart attack. Reviewed by Daniel Lee Kulick, MD, FACC, FSCAI on 5/10/2012 Patient CommentsViewers share their comments
Angina - Share Your Experience
Question: Please describe your experience with angina.
Angina - Symptoms
Question: What were the symptoms associated with your angina?
Angina - Causes
Question: If known, what was the cause of your angina?
Angina - Other Chest Pain Experience
Question: Please describe your experience with chest pain that was due to causes other than angina.
Angina - Treatment
Question: What kinds of treatment, procedures, or medication did you receive for angina?
Angina- Medications
Question: What medications were you prescribed to treat your angina? Describe the side effects.
Angina - Surgery Experience
Question: Please describe your experience with angioplasty and coronary artery bypass surgery.
Angina - Calcium Scoring
Question: Have you had CT scan calcium tests? Please share your experience, including results.
Angina - Diagnosis
Question: How was the diagnosis of your angina established?
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