New Arrival: Hi All Just been reading... - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

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Mutley1955 profile image
6 Replies

Hi All

Just been reading your posts and replies

Very interesting and helpful

I have suffered with throat/jaw and chest pains for about 15 years

They only happen once or twice a year. Nothing obvious brings them on and they last about 15-20 mins

Feel like im dying whilst the pain is there and feel absolutely fine when its gone

Unsuslly ive had 2 in the last week so made appointment to see dr tomorrow

Had heart scanned about 4 years ago and all clear, puzzling!

Not been diagnosed with sngina but reading on thos forum does tend to point that way

Will update shortly

Mutley

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Mutley1955 profile image
Mutley1955
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6 Replies
young85 profile image
young85

Hiya fellow newbie!

What do your pains feel like?

Mutley1955 profile image
Mutley1955 in reply to young85

Hi

Really horrible throat and jaw cramps which warns me the chest pains sre coming

Chest pain feels like the worse heartburn you can imagine then ease and then repeats for up to 20 mins

Very scary for others to watch

Zena166 profile image
Zena166

Hi And welcome. I think it’s really important to see your GP and hopefully you will get referred to a rapid access chest pain clinic especially as you have had 2 in the week. Also when you are having them it maybe wise to seek help immediately rather than wait especially whilst you’re waiting for diagnosis. In this heat it is also wise to keep well hydrated. I hope it gets sorted for you soon. Best wishes Zena

Mutley1955 profile image
Mutley1955 in reply to Zena166

Thanks

JonathanH profile image
JonathanH

Mutley, if you have angina but healthy coronary arteries, it is possible (likely?) that you have either microvascular angina - where the small blood vessels to the heart do not function as they should - or coronary artery spasm (Prinzmetal's angina), which most commonly occurs at night. In coronary artery spasm, the arteries go into spasm for a period and constrict blood flow to the heart. My understanding is that GTN (previously known as nitroglycerine) will normally relieve spasms, so it may be worth asking for GTN spray. But GTN does lots of things and is not a reliable diagnostic tool.

Incidentally, it seems that spasm of microvessels is one mechanism of microvascular angina.

Unfortunately, most cardiologists are ignorant of these potentially debilitating disorders and you may have to do battle with the NHS to obtain a referral to somebody who knows about them. Do not be surprised if you struggle to be taken seriously but do not give up.

Was your heart scan an ultrasound (echocardiogram)? I don't know that they can detect atherosclerosis (furring up of the arteries) and you may need an angiogram to determine the condition of your (big) arteries. One of the problems with microvascular angina and coronary artery spasms is that their episodic nature makes it difficult to catch them on ECG: note also that the ECG changes with microvascular angina tend to be subtle, such as T-wave flattening or minor ST-depression, and my experience is that hospital staff are not impressed by minor changes and ignore them. If you have ECG's ask the staff to look out for such minor changes.

Ischemia can cause arrhythmia, so if you have occasional palpitations or rhythm disturbances, it is possible that this is caused by ischemia, presumably whether blockage of main arteries, spasm of main arteries or dysfunction of small blood vessels.

Incidentally, if in doubt dial 999. It is better to call an ambulance and find that you didn't have a heart attack than not to call an ambulance and find that you did have a heart attack. I have found paramedics and A&E staff universally supportive on this issue. One possible benefit of calling an ambulance quickly is that the paramedics' ECG recording may pick up an abnormality that would not be observed at other times.

Jonathan

Mutley1955 profile image
Mutley1955 in reply to JonathanH

Hi Jonathan

Saw doc today

Prescribed GNT spray and referred me to Chest Pain clinic

My episodes generally happen in the evening

BP a bit high and history of high cholesterol

My heart scan was an angiogram 4 years ago

Interesting issues you raise

Thanks for your comment and advice

Will update

Mutley

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