Angor animi


Angor animi, in medicine, is a symptom defined as a patient's perception that they are in fact dying. Most cases of angor animi are found in patients suffering from acute coronary syndrome such as myocardial infarction. It is, however, occasionally found in patients suffering from other conditions. Pheochromocytoma also can present with angor animi, accompanied by other symptoms that include; headache, profuse sweating, palpitations and characteristically a pounding severe headache. Irukandji syndrome is also another reported cause.
Angor animi is differentiated from a fear or desire for death, since angor animi refers to a patient's actual and genuine belief that they are in fact dying.

Etymology

The phrase is derived from the two Latin terms which it is composed of, namely angor and animi.
Angor, in modern English, refers to a great anxiety, distress, or mental anguish often accompanied by a painful constriction and palpitations at the upper abdomen and lower thorax.
Animi means an animating spirit, intention or temper.