Coronary artery spasm

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Angina Coronary artery spasm Artery cut section

Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention

Coronary artery spasm

The main symptom is angina (a type of chest pain), with these characteristics:

• Under the chest bone
• Described as squeezing, constricting, tightness, pressure, crushing -- it is usually severe and may radiate to the neck, jaw, shoulder, or arm
• It often occurs at rest
• May occur at the same time each day, usually between midnight and 8:00 AM
• Pain lasts from 5 to 30 minutes
• Pain is relieved by nitroglycerin
• Syncope (loss of consciousness) can accompany the angina

An examination is usually inconclusive, but may indicate atherosclerosis. Coronary angiography may show spasm when the artery is injected with ergonovine, and may show fixed lesions, such as clot or atherosclerosis, which contribute to chest pain.

An ECG may show ischemic changes during chest pain, and it may show arrhythmias or conduction defects.

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