Coronary artery spasmDefinition: Coronary artery spasm is a
temporary, sudden narrowing of one of the coronary arteries (the
arteries that supply blood to the heart). The spasm slows or
stops blood flow through the artery and starves part of the
heart of oxygen-rich blood. Variant angina; Angina - variant;
Prinzmetal's angina; Vasospastic angina Causes, incidence, and
risk factors: The spasm often occurs in coronary arteries that
have not become hardened due to plaque buildup (atherosclerosis
). However, it also can occur in arteries with plaque buildup.
These spasms are due to a squeezing of muscles in the artery
wall. They usually occur in just one area of the artery. The
coronary artery may appear normal during testing, but it does
not function normally. About 2% of patients with angina (chest
pain and pressure) have coronary artery spasm. Coronary artery
spasm occurs most commonly in people who smoke or who have high
cholesterol or high blood pressure . It may occur without cause,
or it may be triggered b