Early winter mornings can trigger this rare heart condition even if you are young and healthy, here's why

Symptoms of Prinzmetal’s Angina: Also called cold-induced coronary spasm, it is a rare heart condition in which the coronary arteries suddenly clamp down, reducing blood flow to the heart. (Image: Pexels)

Winter often brings discomfort, from biting winds to unexpected aches and chest tightness. For a small but significant number of people, that unsettling feeling has a name, and it doesn’t always come with a warning sign.

Prinzmetal’s Angina, also called cold-induced coronary spasm, is a rare heart condition in which the coronary arteries suddenly clamp down, reducing blood flow to the heart.

What is Prinzmetal's Angina

Unlike classic heart attacks, this can happen even when the arteries are not blocked. “People are often shocked because they consider themselves healthy and low-risk,” Dr Manish Bansal, Senior Director of Clinical and Preventive Cardiology, Medanta, tells Moneycontrol. He adds, “But cold weather can exaggerate the natural narrowing of blood vessels, triggering a spasm in sensitive people.”

Also read | Early symptoms of vascular diseases: Your blood vessels may be under stress, it's time to pay attention

Experts report that cases tend to rise during December and January, particularly in the early hours of the morning when temperatures drop sharply. During cold exposure, the body instinctively constricts blood vessels to preserve heat. “In some people, however, this response overshoots the mark. The artery behaves as if it’s being squeezed from the outside. Blood flow reduces temporarily, causing intense chest pain that closely mimics a cardiac event,” Dr Bansal says. Unlike effort-related angina, these episodes often occur at rest—and frequently wake people from sleep.

Symptoms of Prinzmetal's Angina

Explains Dr Bansal, “Patients often describe a squeezing, burning or pinching pain in the chest, lasting between five and fifteen minutes. The discomfort may spread to the arm, jaw or back before easing as the spasm relaxes.”

While the condition is rare, certain people are more vulnerable. “Smoking remains the strongest risk factor, but high blood pressure, high cholesterol and existing artery disease also increase susceptibility,” he adds.

Triggers, the expert says, are not limited to cold alone. Emotional stress, sudden temperature changes, hyperventilation and stimulant use can all provoke an episode. “The danger is dismissing these symptoms as gas or muscle pain. Chest pain at rest, especially at night, should always be evaluated,” warns Dr Bansal.

Also read | Causes and conditions other than heart attacks that lead to chest pain

Ways to prevent Prinzmetal's Angina

Tips to manage  the risk and stay safe in winter:

Prinzmetal’s Angina is highly manageable once diagnosed. Doctors typically prescribe medications such as calcium channel blockers or vasodilators to prevent spasms and improve blood flow. With consistent treatment, most patients do very well.

Simple winter precautions can also reduce risk:

Dress warmly and wear layers

Cover your nose and mouth in cold air

Stop smoking completely

Manage stress through yoga or meditation

Avoid sudden exposure to extreme cold

Prinzmetal’s Angina may account for only a small fraction of angina cases, but its ability to strike unexpectedly makes awareness crucial. “Ignoring warning signs can be dangerous. Early diagnosis allows effective treatment and prevents serious complications,” Dr Bansal says.

FAQs on Prinzmetal’s Angina

Prinzmetal’s Angina, also known as cold-induced coronary spasm, is a rare heart condition where coronary arteries suddenly contract, reducing blood flow to the heart even when arteries are not blocked, often triggered by cold weather.

Patients often describe intense chest pain, squeezing, burning, or pinching, lasting between five and fifteen minutes. The discomfort can spread to the arm, jaw, or back, typically occurring at rest and frequently waking individuals from sleep.

Triggers include cold weather, emotional stress, sudden temperature changes, hyperventilation, and stimulant use. It’s important to evaluate chest pain at rest, especially at night, as it could indicate Prinzmetal’s Angina.

While the condition is rare, smokers are at the highest risk. Other risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and existing artery disease. Cold weather can exacerbate the natural narrowing of blood vessels in sensitive individuals.

The condition is manageable with medications like calcium channel blockers or vasodilators. Simple winter precautions include dressing warmly, covering your nose and mouth in cold air, quitting smoking, managing stress, and avoiding sudden exposure to extreme cold.