Unstable Angina

[KYfan45]

I am wondering about the pain level with unstable angina. Google says it is severe. Has that been your experience? Could you have carried on with activity for example? Were you short of breathe? Were you able to exercise without provocation sometimes but other times unstable angina at rest? Thanks for your help

[Malteasers]

Hi, I was diagnosed with unstable angina out of the blue in June 2024 after my first heart attack, I had angina attacks until my second heart attack in October 2024. They stopped for 12 days after the second heart attack but then started again.I had triple bypass surgery in February 2025 and have not had an angina attack since.

For me, I can honestly say that the angina attacks were more painful and frankly more scary than either of the heart attacks.

I had no choice but to stop what I was doing during the angina attacks as they would literally knock me off my feet.

I would be in absolute agony and gasping for breath.

GTN spray would kick in after 10 minutes or so but I'd be left breathless and in pain for a good hour afterwards.

I can't say if they came on with provocation as I was too scared to do anything energetic incase I bought one on.

I'd wake up in the night with an attack,

I also lost consciousness during a few of them.

Unstable angina is just horrendous to live with, and if I'm being completely honest here, there were many times that I didn't want to live with it, I couldn't bare the thought of having another attack, I had 52 angina attacks in total between June 2024 & February 2025, during each one of them I felt like I was about to die.

Hope this helps.

[sandandkev]

I have been diagnosed with unstable angina,I was on gtn if needed but apparently as I'm quite young!! but walk my dogs cardiologist put me on tildiem which is slow release and helps blood flow,get little twinge now and again,now have cardiac artery disease,yes still get breathless now and again depending what doing but just sit down and do slow breathing and it settled

[befreed437]

I was diagnosed with unstable angina in 2024 also.Yeah it definitely is like a shock to the system, but the Gtn spray does help. Most of the time it is at night when I'm resting., but does wake me up gasping for a breath. Then I take my gtn spray and a glass of water.

I try and get through some days with slight chest pain, where I have to rest and take a breath, but not as severe as the night ones when I'm resting.

[Yodayodz]

I've just been diagnosed with microvascular unstable angina and I get it when I sleep but my cardiologist said I can't exercise only my heart rehab thing wich I have got to go back to because I haven't been ask your doctor

[robbiemac]

I also have/had unstable angina, mostly during the night, GTN doesn't really work so just have to relax and let it take it's course. It is basically cramp, arterial spasm. I found that it is caused by hypoglycemia. It happens at night because you are not eating so your blood sugar can drop. I eat a Nature Valley breakfast bar about two hours before bedtime and that sees me through. I rarely have an episode now. As you say, the pain is dreadful!

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello,

I have lived with unstable angina caused by transient constrictions of the coronary arteries, vasospastic angina, for over 13 years.

I have been admitted to hospital for treatment with IV GTN and morphine about 20 times.

I go into hospital when I have unremitting, crescending episodes of chestpain at rest and exertion.

At it's worst my angina feels like being in labour, my chest has been put in a vice and I can't breathe in.

The BHF has this information about unstable angina.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

It is important to seek medical advice if you experience crescending episodes of chest pain, that occur at rest or during exertion that are not relieved by sublingual GTN spray 5 minutes apart.

[Proteus333]

Hello....don't go on doctor Google..it will only make matters blow up.. take GTN spray if prescribed..and ask your GP for advice..not Google.. Take care of yourself always John

[Healthcosy]

Hi all

I was excercing yesterday my heart rate went to 145bpm and I had an Angina attack sprayed GNC

Heart was irregular up and down Toke about 15 Min for heart rate to go to 78bpm

Do you think the 145 Bpm caused problem?