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THE AETIOLOGY OF NON‐EXERTIONAL ANGINA PECTORIS
Author(s) -
Derrick Edward H.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1976.tb128245.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , angina , blood pressure , heart rate , exertion , rest (music) , etiology , myocardial infarction
The occurrence of angina pectoris while at rest, although long recognized, has not been satisfactorily explained. In the non‐exertional attacks studied there was an increase in heart load, as estimated by the product of heart rate and systolic pressure. Angina occurred when the load exceeded a critical level. Recumbency was associated with 94% of non‐exertional attacks; 58% followed a meal; in 54% both factors were present. It is suggested that recumbency causes an increase in heart load because of expansion of blood volume by transfer of fluid from interstitial spaces, and that a meal does so because of digestive activity.