Unstable angina is a medical emergency and if untreated can progress to Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI)

Diagnostic criteria

Presents as chest pain or discomfort like stable angina but with the following additional characteristics:

• Angina at rest or minimal effort, occurring for the first time, particularly at rest and prolonged > 10 minutes, not relieved by sublingual nitrates.

• The pattern of angina accelerates and gets worse

• The chest pain may be associated with ST segment depression or T wave inversion or normal ECG without rise in cardiac enzymes (biomarkers ie Total Creatine, Creatine -MB and Troponin).