ANGINA

Diagnosis of Angina Introduction

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Diagnosis of Angina Introduction

Introduction

Angina's common treatments are Calcium channel blockers, Nitroglycerin and beta blockers. Angina is not a disease; it is a symptom of heart problem. Angina primarily relates to coronary heart disease (Jackson, 2008).

Cause

The main cause of angina is the blockage of coronary arteries. It stops the circulation of oxygen-rich blood. Angina can be caused due to other reasons as well. These reasons can be pericarditis, pleuritis, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, etc.

Calcium channel blockers

Calcium channel blocker is a chemical that upsets the movement of calcium through the calcium channels. Calcium channel blockers also known as calcium antagonists. These are those of drugs that affect the way calcium passes into certain muscle cells.

Patients's history

Patient has severe asthma, and had six heart attacks. History tells that he has been using cocaine drug twice a week. History also talks the chest pain. According to the patient, his chest pains do not have any specific time duration.

Additional history

Doctors need to know whether the pain occur on activity or on the rest. Do the patient feels relieve by resting. Whether there is chest tightness, or ill-characterized discomfort. Does the pain radiate to left shoulder or arm? Diagnosis of angina supported is sublingual nitroglycerin shortens the attack.

Connection between cocaine use and angina

Cocaine can induce myocardial ischemia and infarction by causing coronary artery vasoconstriction or by increasing myocardial energy requirements (Sinatra, 1999).

Three tests for the diagnoses

ECG

ECG looks for ST segment elevation/depression.

Coronary Arteriography

It determines whether fixed stenotic lesions are present. If they are then aggressive medical therapy or revascularization indicated. If lesions not seen then ergo-ovine may be administered to induce vasospasm. This vasospasm will respond well to nitrates and calcium channel blockers.

Echocardiography

Echocardiography gives the image the left ventricle, and reveals segmental wall motion abnormalities, which may indicate ischemia or prior infarction.

Pathophysiology of the disease

Cocaine can ...