Ask the doctor: What is Prinzmetal's angina?
Coronary artery spasms occur unpredictably, up to several times a day. Unlike typical angina, the symptoms do not always happen during or after physical activity. Diagnosis is tricky: the person has to take a drug to provoke a spasm and then undergo a coronary angiogram, an X-ray image of the heart's arteries. As a result, doctors often simply treat people whom they suspect have the condition with nitroglycerin and calcium-channel blockers—the same medications many people take for typical angina.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
