I'm new here so hope someone will be able to help me with Coronary Spasms

[Angelmaisie]

I was diagnosed with Coronary Spasms approx. 5 years ago. There doesn't seem to be a trigger that I am aware of. They come in blocks so I may be fine for a few weeks then I could have them 3 or 4 days running (sometimes 7 days). The usually occur in the evening or wake me in the night. They come in groups and I usually have to use my GTN spray three times (so a group of 3 usually). If I am awake the first clue that one is about to happen is pain in my jaw and the base of my neck. I am on a nitrate tablet but have been taken off Tildiem as my blood pressure was dropping too low.

Would be good to hear of other peoples experiences and advice.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello Angelmaisie

Welcome to the forum

There are quite a few of us living with non obstructive coronary artery disease caused by microvascular or vasospastic angina or as in my case both.

Vasospastic angina is the term that is being more commonly used rather than coronary artery spasms.

The BHF have just produced this information about Vasospastic angina.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Also this is an article published by Prof Colin Berry and his team in Glasgow who is a BHF funded researcher into microvascular and vasospastic angina.

Have you got a good relationship with your Cardiologist ?

This is really important as it can take sometime to find the best combination of medication to help you best.

heart.bmj.com/content/104/4...

This was published last week by another BHF funded team .

heart.bmj.com/content/early...

It might be worth keeping a diary to help you work out what your triggers are.

Mine are the cold, emotional and mental stress.

I also tend to get worse angina in response to exercise at rest later in the evening and in the night.

I am sure others will be along to share their experiences too.

[scottish1 in reply to Milkfairy]

Wow, there is much more information from BHF now than 4 years ago.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to scottish1]

The BHF have been really responsive to patients' requests to update the information.

An expert patient by experience acted as an advisor along with Prof Berry on the update of both Microvascular and vasospastic angina by the BHF.