
It's caused by a spasm in the heart's arteries that temporarily reduces blood flow. Variant angina, also called Prinzmetal angina, isn't due to coronary artery disease. Unstable angina is dangerous and requires emergency treatment. If the blood flow doesn't improve, the heart is starved of oxygen and a heart attack occurs. The pain doesn't go away with rest or the usual angina medications. It's typically severe and lasts longer than stable angina, maybe 20 minutes or longer. Or the angina pain is worsening and occurs with less physical effort. Unstable angina is unpredictable and occurs at rest.


It usually happens during activity (exertion) and goes away with rest or angina medication.

Stable angina is the most common form of angina. The type depends on the cause and whether rest or medication relieve symptoms. If you have unexplained chest pain, seek medical help right away. Although angina is relatively common, it can still be hard to distinguish from other types of chest pain, such as the discomfort of indigestion.
