Signs & Symptoms of Variant Angina

• Variant angina is a form of heart disease that is characterized by episodes of severe chest pain. It is also called Prinzmetal's angina. It differs from other forms of angina, such as stable angina, because the chest pain develops when a person is at rest. All types of angina, including variant angina, are a form of coronary heart disease. The pain that accompanies episodes of variant angina is the result of a spasm in a coronary artery.
  
  

Chest Pain

• The hallmark of angina is severe chest pain that often feels like the chest is being crushed or a weight has been places on it. People with variant angina typically experience these episodes of chest pain when they are at rest, often during the night hours when they are sleeping. The pain can also radiate from the chest to the throat, jaws, shoulders and stomach.
  
  

Breathing Trouble

• An episode of variant angina can also bring about breathing difficulties or shortness of breath. Some people also develop heart palpitations, or a rapid and irregular heartbeat that can feel as though your heart is going to jump out of your chest.
  
  

Nausea

• An episode of variant angina can also bring about nauseousness and, in some cases, vomiting. This is generally due to the extreme pain associated with an attack.
  
  

Other Symptoms

• Some people with variant angina may also experience extreme lightheadedness and profuse sweating during an episode. It's also not uncommon to feel a heaviness in the chest or as though there is increased pressure in the chest cavity.