| Condition
|
Ages Affected
|
Duration
|
Pathophysiology
|
Location
|
Diagnostic tests
|
|
|
|
| Stable Angina
|
Sudden (acute)
|
2-10 minutes
|
Heaviness, pressure, tightness, squeezing, burning (Levine's sign)
|
Retrosternal
|
Exertion, emotions, cold
|
Rest, sublingual nitroglycerine (within minutes)
|
Radiation to neck, jaw, shoulders, or arms (commonly on left)
|
Sweating, nausea, palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath, sense of impending doom
|
| Unstable Angina
|
Acute
|
10-20 minutes
|
Same as stable angina but often more severe
|
Same as stable angina
|
Same as stable angina but occurs with lower levels of exertion & rest
|
Same as stable angina
|
Same as stable angina
|
Same as stable angina
|
| Myocardial Infarction
|
Acute
|
Commonly > 20 minutes
|
Same as stable angina but often more severe
|
Same as stable angina
|
Same as stable angina but occurs with lower levels of exertion & rest
|
Usually unrelieved by nitroglycerine and rest
|
Same as stable angina
|
Same as stable angina
|
| Aortic Stenosis
|
Acute, recurrent episodes of angina
|
Same as stable angina
|
Same as stable angina
|
Same as stable angina
|
Same as stable angina
|
Same as stable angina
|
Same as stable angina
|
Not specific
|
| Aortic Dissection
|
Sudden severe progressive pain (common) or chronic (rare)
|
Variable
|
Tearing, ripping sensation, knife like
|
Depends on area of dissection
|
Variable
|
Unrelenting pain, unrelieved by nitroglycerine and rest
|
Radiating to back, between shoulder blades (dissection in ascending aorta)
|
Trauma, Surgical manipulation, pregnancy, hypertension, connective tissue disease like marfan's syndrome (cystic medial degeneration)
|
| Pericarditis
|
Acute or subacute
|
May last for hours to days
|
Sharp, localized
|
Retrosternal
|
Increases with coughing, deep breathing, supine position
|
Relieved by sitting up and leaning forward
|
Radiation to shoulder, neck, back abdomen
|
Not specific
|