Coronary artery spasm

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Angina

Coronary artery spasm

Coronary artery spasm

Alternative Names:

Variant angina; Angina - variant
Treatment:

The goal of treatment is to control chest pain and to prevent heart attack. Nitroglycerin or other nitrate medications may be prescribed to relieve chest pain. Calcium-channel blockers may be chronically needed.

Medications may also include beta-blockers. However, in some cases of variant angina, beta-blockers may be detrimental (e.g., if used along with cocaine).

Expectations (prognosis):

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Coronary artery spasm is a chronic condition. Symptoms usually respond to treatment. This disorder may indicate a high risk for acute MI (heart attack) or potentially fatal arrhythmias. However, the prognosis is generally good if the patient is treated and avoids certain triggers.

Complications:

Acute MI (heart attack)
Arrhythmias

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if crushing or heavy chest pain occurs, or if chest pain does not respond to nitroglycerin in people with a prior history of angina.