Prinzmetal angina: symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Health is the greatest wealth given from above. Only not always we can properly dispose of it. Diseases lie in wait at every step. It seems, most recently I wanted to dance, but now there is no strength to get up from my chair. One of the diseases that often occurs is the angina of Prinzmetal. That's about it now and will talk.

What it is

Variant, spontaneous, vasospastic is a few more definitions of the disease. It is diagnosed if there is a spasm of blood vessels that feed the heart. In medical terms, this is the clinical form of angina at rest. This disease is rare. This name it received from his "parent" - M. Prinzmetal. This famous American cardiologist in 1959 first described a disease such as vasospastic angina ( Prinzmetal angina ). Most often this disease affects people aged between thirty and fifty years. Approaching the treatment of this type of angina should not be the same as other types of angina. The reason for this is its characteristics. The disease can manifest itself in a pure form, and in conjunction with angina pectoris tension.

Prinzmetal's angina develops on a background of rest, usually during the night sleep. Sometimes the attack begins in a cold room or on the street in the cool season.

What causes this disease

Now let's talk about the causes that trigger the occurrence of this type of angina pectoris. As already mentioned, it can be cold. But we should add that he can not be considered the main "provocateur", he as though pushes the body to this attack. Well, as for the reasons, then Prinzmetal's angina may result from:

• Development of atherosclerosis. And this is the key point. It is not necessary that the disease be neglected. Even at the initial stages, atherosclerosis can provoke angina. Blame all plaques. They lead to persistent stenosis, which causes the symptoms of Prinzmetal. Angina of this kind is observed in seventy-five percent of patients with atherosclerosis.
• Active smoking, another reason that does not create a problem of the onset of the disease, but pushes to it. This group includes alcohol, malnutrition, sedentary lifestyle, constant stress.

How is the disease manifested?

Now let's talk about how Prinzmetal's angina manifests itself. Symptoms of the disease everyone should know in case he suddenly feels unwell.

• Severe pain in the sternum early in the morning, during sleep or rest.
• Signs of tachycardia and hypertension.
• During the electrocardiogram in the ST segment, you can see the picture, as with myocardial infarction.
• Pain, which previously occurred periodically, become unbearable.
• Periodicity of the appearance of pain varies from five to fifteen minutes.
• Constant headache, nausea, fainting.
• Violations of the vegetative system.

Having found out at least one of these signs, immediately go to a specialist. Only he can confirm or deny the diagnosis of "Prinzmetal angina". Symptoms should be supplemented by the results of the survey. In time the treatment started is the way to your soonest recovery, as the consequences from it may not be very pleasant.

Possible consequences

Stenocardia of Prinzmetal can lead to a heart attack. True, the probability of this is not great. Spasms that occur during an attack are not very long. There is another danger - violation of the electrical function of the heart. This leads to a violation of the heart rhythm, which leads to the manifestation of ventricular tachycardia, and this is one step before the fatal outcome.

Another consequence of the disease is an obstructive lesion of the coronary arteries.

If we go to the figures, we can say the following. In the first six months after the development of the disease takes about ten percent of the sick. Twenty percent of the patients get remission. True, they will have to follow some rules until the end of their life, because the symptoms can return in a few years.

To put the correct prognosis for the development of the disease in the future is not an easy task. It depends on the severity of the disease and the frequency of seizures. And of course, you can not ignore coronary atherosclerosis.

Diagnostics

A correctly diagnosed diagnosis is a very important stage in the treatment of any ailment. The main method that will help to confirm such a disease, like Prinzmetal angina, is ECG. Used during an attack. If the ST segment on the cardiogram is raised, then this is the disease that you suspected.

If this method has not completely refuted or confirmed the suspicions of a specialist, it is used:

• A provocative test with hyperventilation;
• Injection of "Acetylcholine" or "Ergometrin";
• Cold and ischemic test.

Studies are underway with the load. In this way, tolerance for loads is checked. Coronary angiography is mandatory. Using this method, it is possible to determine and evaluate the degree of damage to the blood vessels by plaques.

The patient should keep a diary of feelings. In it, he notes all the changes from the heart. And also the pain that can arise when doing this or that job.

Treatment

The diagnosis is made, now the conversation will be conducted about what is the treatment for Prinzmetal angina .

• The patient must be hospitalized.
• At the first stage, medicines are used: nitroglycerin stops painful attacks, potassium antagonists expand collateral and coronary arteries.
• When coronary artery disease occurs, alpha-adrenoblockers should be started.

Treatment should be carried out strictly according to the program. It can not be sharply stopped, there may be negative consequences: the number of seizures will increase, the symptoms will increase, which can lead to myocardial infarction. That's why drugs should be taken strictly on schedule.
Most often, these measures are sufficient, but if the desired effect is not achieved, resort to surgical intervention.

The solution to this problem can be solved with the help of:

• Coronary artery stenting.
• Aortocoronary bypass surgery.
• Angioplasty.

Prevention of disease

Despite the fact that Prinzmetal angina can affect a person at any age, do not panic. In order for your heart to be in order, follow these rules:

• Eat low-calorie foods.
• Exclude foods rich in animal fats.
• Do not abuse alcohol, but give up smoking.
• Sleep - at least eight hours a day.
• Do sports or at least evening walks.
• If possible, avoid stress.