What are the types of angina?

What are the types of angina?

• A. Stable angina, unstable angina, Prinzmetal angina
• B. Unstable angina, stable angina, silent ischemia
• C. Prinzmetal angina, stable angina, silent ischemia
• D. Stable angina only

Answer: (A)

Angina comes in three classic patterns: stable angina, unstable angina, and Prinzmetal (variant) angina. This question tests your ability to recognize these distinct presentations. Stable angina is triggered by exertion or emotional stress and is due to a fixed narrowing of the coronary arteries. The pain is predictable and relieved by rest or nitroglycerin. Unstable angina represents a change in pattern—pain at rest or with increasing frequency or severity—indicating that a plaque is acutely restricting blood flow and may herald a myocardial infarction. Prinzmetal angina results from coronary vasospasm, often occurring at rest, sometimes with transient ST-segment elevations on ECG. It’s not driven by fixed atherosclerotic narrowing but by vasospastic episodes. Silent ischemia, while real and clinically important, is myocardial ischemia without chest pain and is not classified as a type of angina. So the best answer includes stable angina, unstable angina, and Prinzmetal angina.

Angina comes in three classic patterns: stable angina, unstable angina, and Prinzmetal (variant) angina. This question tests your ability to recognize these distinct presentations.

Stable angina is triggered by exertion or emotional stress and is due to a fixed narrowing of the coronary arteries. The pain is predictable and relieved by rest or nitroglycerin.

Unstable angina represents a change in pattern—pain at rest or with increasing frequency or severity—indicating that a plaque is acutely restricting blood flow and may herald a myocardial infarction.

Prinzmetal angina results from coronary vasospasm, often occurring at rest, sometimes with transient ST-segment elevations on ECG. It’s not driven by fixed atherosclerotic narrowing but by vasospastic episodes.

Silent ischemia, while real and clinically important, is myocardial ischemia without chest pain and is not classified as a type of angina.

So the best answer includes stable angina, unstable angina, and Prinzmetal angina.