What causes vasospastic angina?

Vasospastic angina, also known as Prinzmetal's angina, is primarily caused by a spasm in the coronary arteries, which reduces or temporarily stops blood flow to the heart muscle. This spasm can occur without any underlying coronary artery disease. It typically leads to chest pain that occurs unpredictably, often at rest, and can be associated with stress, smoking, or exposure to cold.

While coronary artery blockage can cause angina, it is associated with stable angina rather than vasospastic angina. Similarly, heart valve malfunctions and high blood pressure may contribute to coronary artery disease and other forms of angina but do not directly cause vasospastic angina. Thus, the essence of vasospastic angina lies in the spontaneous and intermittent nature of the coronary artery spasms, which are the defining characteristic of this condition.