Vasovagal Angina can you have quality of life???

[Ruth8]

Does anyone else have a vasovagal response to angina? How do you cope with day to day life? And the dreaded exercise is it possible?

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi Ruth8

Welcome to the forum.

My blood pressure and heart rate increases with my Vasospastic angina pain.

The vasovagal response of blood pressure , heart rate dropping and also fainting is unusual and I am sure very challenging to live with.

I am aware some people also have POTS with their MVA or Vasospastic angina.

potsuk.org/

Also Addison's disease can affect the cardiovascular system in particular the normal function of the endothelium the lining of all blood vessels. Have you had access to an Endocrinologist ?

addisonsdisease.org.uk/what...

I noticed from your profile you also have Cardiomyopathy have you had a look at their website?

cardiomyopathy.org/

I hope you are able to contact with someone else with your specific symptoms soon.

[Charlietiger]

Hi Ruth8,

my MVA is always associated with a drop in BP and HR. I was informed that my MVA is a response to these drops which are termed a dysautonomia. I also have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and dysautonomias are common with this. (I have an issue with joints popping out.)

As Milkfairy said look at the POTS website but be aware there are other dysautonomias other than just Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Some of us have bradycardia.

I have to be careful day to day and pace myself. I use nitro patches to help control bad breakthrough angina and otherwise take a cocktail of vasodilators. Weirdly these medications seem to help raise my BP and HR if I'm bad. Try explaining that to nurses and Drs!

Exercise is an issue. Listen to your body. Work out what you can and can't do. Pace yourself, take rests, build up slowly, always warm up slowly for 20 mins and cool down after. Circadian rhythm has a big influence for me so I'm always better in the afternoon. If you haven't been then ask for a cardiac rehabilitation referral, it worked for me. Good luck x

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Charlietiger]

Hi Charlietiger,

MVA is certainly not a simple heart condition. It is so often intertwined with other poorly understood and recognised disorders.

Unfortunately Neurologists, Rheumatologists and Cardiologists don't always appreciate the interconnection.

We all seem to have our own version of MVA or vasospastic angina which makes living with and treating non obstructive coronary artery disease even more challenging for everyone.