Unstable angina

Unstable angina
Unstable angina
Unstable angina

Unstable angina is a condition in which your heart doesn't get enough blood flow and oxygen. It may lead to a heart attack.

Angina is a type of chest discomfort caused by poor blood flow through the blood vessels (coronary vessels) of the heart muscle (myocardium).

See also:

Stable angina
Variant angina
Causes
Coronary artery disease due to atherosclerosis is by far the most common cause of unstable angina. Atherosclerosis is the buildup of fatty material called plaque along the walls of the arteries. This causes arteries to become narrowed and less flexible. The narrowing interrupts blood flow to the heart, causing chest pain.

People with unstable angina are at increased risk of having a heart attack.

Rare causes of angina are:

Abnormal function of tiny branch arteries without narrowing of larger arteries (called microvascular dysfunction or Syndrome X)
Coronary artery spasm
Risk factors for coronary artery disease include:

Diabetes
Family history of early coronary heart disease -- a close relative such as a sibling or parent had heart disease before age 55 (in a man) or before age 65 (in a woman)
High blood pressure
High LDL cholesterol
Low HDL cholesterol
Male gender
Not getting enough exercise
Obesity
Older age
Smoking