Angina Pectoris Nursing Care Plan &
Management
Description
1. Angina is chest pain resulting from myocardial ischemia caused by inadequate
myocardial blood and oxygen supply.
2. Angina is caused by an imbalance between oxygen supply and demand.
3. Causes include obstruction of coronary blood flow because of atherosclerosis,
coronary artery spasm, and conditions increasing myocardial oxygen consumption.
4. The goal of treatment is to provide relief of an acute attack, correct the imbalance
between myocardial oxygen supply and demand, and prevent the progression of the
disease and further attacks to reduce the risk of MI.
,Patterns of angina
1. Stable angina
● Stable angina also called exertional angina.
● Stable angina occurs with activities that involve exertion or emotional stress and is
relieved with rest or nitroglycerin.
● Stable angina usually has a stable pattern of onset, duration, severity, and relieving
factors.
2. Unstable angina
● Unstable angina also is called preinfarction angina.
● Unstable angina occurs with an unpredictable degree of exertion or emotion and
increases in occurrence, duration, and severity over time.
● Pain may not be relieved with nitroglycerin.
3. Variant angina
● Variant angina also is called Prinzmetal’s or vasospastic angina.
● Variant angina results from coronary artery spasm.
● Variant angina may occur at rest.
● Attacks may be associated with ST segment elevation noted on the
electrocardiogram.
, 4. Intractable angina is a chronic, incapacitating angina that is unresponsive to interventions.
5. Preinfarction angina
● Preinfarction angina is associated with acute coronary insufficiency.
● Preinfarction angina lasts longer than 15 minutes.
● Preinfarction angina is a symptom of worsening cardiac ischemia.
6. Postinfarction angina occurs after an MI, when residual ischemia may cause episodes of
angina.
Risk Factors
● Atherosclerosis
● Hypertension
● Diabetes Mellitus
● Thromboangitis Obliterans
● Polycythemia Vera
● Aortic Regurgitation
Assessment
1. Pain
1. Pain can develop slowly or quickly.
2. Pain usually is described as mild or moderate.
3. Substernal, crushing, squeezing, pain may occur.
4. Pain may radiate to the shoulders, arms, jaw, neck, and back.
5. Pain usually lasts less than 5 minutes, however, pain can last up to 15 to 20
minutes.
6. Pain is relieved by nitroglycerin or rest.
2. Dyspnea
3. Pallor
Management
Description
1. Angina is chest pain resulting from myocardial ischemia caused by inadequate
myocardial blood and oxygen supply.
2. Angina is caused by an imbalance between oxygen supply and demand.
3. Causes include obstruction of coronary blood flow because of atherosclerosis,
coronary artery spasm, and conditions increasing myocardial oxygen consumption.
4. The goal of treatment is to provide relief of an acute attack, correct the imbalance
between myocardial oxygen supply and demand, and prevent the progression of the
disease and further attacks to reduce the risk of MI.
,Patterns of angina
1. Stable angina
● Stable angina also called exertional angina.
● Stable angina occurs with activities that involve exertion or emotional stress and is
relieved with rest or nitroglycerin.
● Stable angina usually has a stable pattern of onset, duration, severity, and relieving
factors.
2. Unstable angina
● Unstable angina also is called preinfarction angina.
● Unstable angina occurs with an unpredictable degree of exertion or emotion and
increases in occurrence, duration, and severity over time.
● Pain may not be relieved with nitroglycerin.
3. Variant angina
● Variant angina also is called Prinzmetal’s or vasospastic angina.
● Variant angina results from coronary artery spasm.
● Variant angina may occur at rest.
● Attacks may be associated with ST segment elevation noted on the
electrocardiogram.
, 4. Intractable angina is a chronic, incapacitating angina that is unresponsive to interventions.
5. Preinfarction angina
● Preinfarction angina is associated with acute coronary insufficiency.
● Preinfarction angina lasts longer than 15 minutes.
● Preinfarction angina is a symptom of worsening cardiac ischemia.
6. Postinfarction angina occurs after an MI, when residual ischemia may cause episodes of
angina.
Risk Factors
● Atherosclerosis
● Hypertension
● Diabetes Mellitus
● Thromboangitis Obliterans
● Polycythemia Vera
● Aortic Regurgitation
Assessment
1. Pain
1. Pain can develop slowly or quickly.
2. Pain usually is described as mild or moderate.
3. Substernal, crushing, squeezing, pain may occur.
4. Pain may radiate to the shoulders, arms, jaw, neck, and back.
5. Pain usually lasts less than 5 minutes, however, pain can last up to 15 to 20
minutes.
6. Pain is relieved by nitroglycerin or rest.
2. Dyspnea
3. Pallor
