What is Variant Angina?
Variant Angina, or Prinzmetal Angina, is discomfort occurring mainly during rest, often at night, and only rarely and inconsistently during exertion. Attacks tend to occur regularly at certain times of day.
Angina and your Heart
Angina is chest pain or discomfort caused when your heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood. It may feel like pressure or squeezing in your chest. The discomfort also can occur in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. Angina pain may even feel like indigestion.
But, angina is not a disease. It is a symptom of an underlying heart problem. There are several types of angina, including microvascular angina, stable angina, unstable angina and variant angina.
Depending on the type of angina you have, there are many factors that can trigger angina pain. The symptoms also vary based on the type of angina you have.