Types of angina

The most common types of angina are stable angina and unstable angina.

• Stable angina. This chest pain usually happens during activity. It goes away with rest or angina medicine. The pattern of pain — how long it lasts, how often it occurs, what triggers it, and how it responds to rest or treatment — stays the same for at least two months.

• Unstable angina. This type is unpredictable and occurs at rest. Or the pain gets worse and happens with less activity. If you have a history of stable angina, the pain is different from usual. The pain is usually very bad and lasts longer than the pain of stable angina. The pain doesn't go away with rest or the usual angina medicines.

  Unstable angina is dangerous and a warning sign of a heart attack. If you have new or changed chest pain, get medical care right away.

Other types of angina include variant angina, also called Prinzmetal angina. This rare type is caused by a spasm in the coronary arteries. Another type, called microvascular angina, can be a symptom of disease in the small coronary artery blood vessels.