Main Manual Index Angina Angina is typically a substernal pressure lasting five to 15 minutes. Most of the time, it will be accompanied by radiation to the jaw, neck, shoulders, or arms. This can happen when there is increased demand for oxygen such as during exercise, or decreased supply such as hypotension or anemia.
Variant angina occurs due to coronary artery spasm alone.
Anginal pain is not typically affected by respiration or by position, although most patients with angina prefer to sit up. Patients with stable angina will have pain after a predictable amount of exertion, and have identical symptoms with each attack. Occasionally, symptoms other than pain may occur with transient myocardial ischemia. Atypical symptoms are more likely to occur in the elderly and in diabetics. The physical exam is usually normal.