What is a common symptom of Prinzmetal angina?

Prinzmetal angina, also known as variant angina, is characterized by episodes of chest pain that often occur at rest, typically due to coronary artery spasm. One of the hallmark features of this condition is the relief of symptoms with nitroglycerin, which is a vasodilator that assists in alleviating the spasm of the coronary arteries. Upon administration of nitroglycerin, the spasm is relieved, leading to a rapid decrease in chest pain. This distinguishes Prinzmetal angina from other forms of angina, such as stable angina, where chest pain is usually tied to exertion and alleviated by rest rather than medication.

Understanding this means recognizing that nitroglycerin serves both a diagnostic and therapeutic function in these episodes of chest pain, making it vital for both patients and healthcare professionals to be aware of its efficacy in managing Prinzmetal angina symptoms.