A 62-year-old male presents to his physician complaining of chest pain at rest and with exertion. He does not have a history of coronary artery disease and reports that the pain often occurs at night. He is most likely experiencing which type of angina?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described suggest that the patient is experiencing Prinzmetal angina, which is also known as variant angina. This type of angina occurs due to spasm of the coronary arteries, which leads to a decrease in blood supply to the heart. It often occurs at rest, during sleep, or in the early morning hours. Stable angina typically occurs with exertion or stress, while unstable angina occurs at rest or with minimal exertion and is considered a medical emergency. Silent angina is asymptomatic and typically only detected by diagnostic tests.

A 62-Year-Old Male Presents to His Physician Complaining of Chest