Angina

Excerpt

Angina, or chest pain, is the most common symptom of ischemic heart disease, a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Chest pain can be due to non-cardiac and cardiac causes, and thorough history and physical is critical in differentiating these causes and identifying patients experiencing acute coronary syndrome. Angina is one of the signs of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and can further subdivide into stable and unstable angina. Stable angina defines as the occurrence of symptoms with exertion only. Unstable angina or symptoms occurring at rest requires more prompt evaluation and management. Approximately 9 million patients in the United States have symptoms of angina, and recognizing these symptoms is imperative in improving patient outcomes.