What are the types of angina?

• A. Stable, unstable, and vasospastic angina
• B. Acute, chronic, and exercise-induced angina
• C. Coronary, cerebral, peripheral angina
• D. Myocardial, valvular, arrhythmic angina

Answer: (A)

Angina types reflect patterns of myocardial ischemia and how the chest pain presents over time. The three recognized forms are stable angina, unstable angina, and vasospastic (Prinzmetal) angina. Stable angina is predictable, usually triggered by exertion or stress, and relieved by rest or nitroglycerin. Unstable angina is a concerning change—new-onset or a change in frequency, severity, or timing of pain, including pain at rest—signaling higher risk of a heart attack. Vasospastic angina arises from a temporary coronary artery spasm, often occurring at rest and causing transient chest pain with possible ST elevations on ECG.

The other options don’t fit as standard classifications. Describing angina as acute, chronic, and exercise-induced isn’t a formal triad of angina types, since “exercise-induced” is a trigger for symptoms rather than a distinct category. Terms like coronary, cerebral, or peripheral angina mix up different organ systems and aren’t used to classify angina. And labeling angina as myocardial, valvular, or arrhythmic relates to broader cardiac conditions or problems rather than the pattern of ischemia that defines angina types.