Living with Prinzmetal angina
A type of chest pain that comes on at rest, usually between midnight and early morning, caused by spasms in the heart's arteries.
Understanding Prinzmetal angina
Episodes usually occur between midnight and early morning, unlike typical angina, which is often triggered by exertion or stress. They can last from several minutes to thirty minutes and be very painful. Pain can spread to the head, shoulder or arm. It is caused by spasms in the arteries that supply the heart muscle, which block blood flow.
Signs & symptoms
GARD describes these features:
- Chest pain at rest
- Episodes between midnight and early morning
- Pain lasting several minutes up to thirty minutes
- Pain that spreads to the head, shoulder or arm
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Your doctor may refer you to a specialist who knows rare conditions.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- A doctor familiar with rare conditions, plus specialists as needed
- Expert care
- Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with International Heart Spasms Alliance
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
GARD says it is caused by spasms of the coronary arteries. It is most common in people who smoke or have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, and often occurs for unknown reasons in otherwise healthy people. Triggers can include alcohol withdrawal, stress, cold, certain medicines and stimulants like cocaine.
Also known as: angina inversa; angina pectoris, variant; coronary artery spasm angina; prinzmetal's angina; prinzmetal's variant angina; variant angina
Patient organizations
- International Heart Spasms AlliancePrinzmetal angina · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Prinzmetal angina.
Explore research for Prinzmetal angina
Explore actively recruiting Prinzmetal angina studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Prinzmetal angina with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper
I can help you find recruiting Prinzmetal angina studies. Enter a ZIP code, address or city below and I'll look within 50 miles.
Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
Get Signals for Prinzmetal angina
Stay in the loop with community stories and updates from medical researchers.
Create a living journal that talks back
HealthStory evolves private journaling with a living AI journal that talks back and asks thoughtful questions, helping you capture your Prinzmetal angina experiences more deeply and prepare for better conversations with your doctors and care team.
Your journal is private. Sharing your story publicly is a separate choice, made with Share your story above.