Coronary spasm

[Goldenheart]

Hi, has anyone experience of mild pain after a spasm, is this normal. I had a spasm earlier,and mild pain hours after. My cardio mentioned this as being like a footprint, as the arteries recover from the strain.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi Goldenheart

I like your Cardiologist's description of a foot print.

I often have an ache or strained feeling in my chest for a day after vasospasms.

After a really prolonged vasospasm I would describe the feeling as more like being kicked by a horse in your chest 😳

[Goldenheart in reply to Milkfairy]

Thankyou for replying, its always a worry whether to go to hospital or not. I felt the pain again whilst eating a meal just then, the uncertainty of it is stressful. It came on after extreme stress this afternoon, i havent e perienced it for a ages so it s took me right back to square one, of fear and uncertainty.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Goldenheart]

It is difficult and very scary at times I agree!

Do you have any GTN spray that you can use?

My Cardiologist always advises me that if anything changes about my chest pain and my usual stratergies don't work it's time to go into hospital to get checked out.

I hope everything settles down. However if you are worried give 111 even 999 a call if necessary.

[SANH65 in reply to Milkfairy]

Hi I have also been hospitalised due to vasospasams , had a stent 5 weeks ago upped meds still have twinges early days

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to SANH65]

Hi SANH65

I hope the medication helps.

Were you diagnosed with vasospastic angina/ coronary artery spasms before your insertion of stents?

Have you seen this information on the BHF website about vasospastic angina?

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[SANH65 in reply to Milkfairy]

Hi this has been going on for two years + gone through every specialist gynaecologist etc etc, even before before seeing cardiologist my doctor put me on medication for angina as a precaution but I knew my body struggling to walk, palpitations tiredness to the point I was falling asleep in work . I knew it was my heart but no one listening. on the 28/11/19 woke up with tremendous pain in chest, arm and sweating and crushing feeling, took Gnt and aspirin did help, went hospital to check , blood taken the one they take to see if you had a heart attack was 55, but blockage only 50% so they put a stent in. I’m confused as I thought that wasn’t that blocked to qualify for stent. anyway 5 weeks post stent I think I’m getting there only to go to hospital with same chest pains now hospital said it’s vasospasams, what is the difference between them and heart attack as I understand there are 3 types of heart attack would be grateful any one could help please

[SANH65 in reply to SANH65]

Hi milkfairy the docter said it’s coronary artery spasms when I admitted myself to hospital on the 2/1/20 my doctor said it’s angina confused. Com 🤔

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to SANH65]

Hi SANH65

In a way they are both doctors right.

Vasospastic angina is the other term used to describe coronary artery spasms.

A vasospasm can cause certain changes on your ECG such as ST elevations or ST depressions along with a raised Troponin a substance released by your heart muscle when it is bruised or damaged. This is also seen when you have a heart attack.

So it can be really difficult to tell them apart.

The usual cause of a heart attack is due to a permanent blockage of one of the coronary arteries , other causes without a blockage are a severe coronary vasospasm ( coronary artery spasm) microvascular angina, or a coronary artery dissection.

I was admitted 7 years ago with a suspected heart attack however a very astute Cardiologist started an IV infusion of GTN which relaxed my coronary arteries stopped the vasospasms and my chest pain stopped!

I am still on lots of medication as I have vasospasms in my small blood vessels and coronary arteries.

The BHF information on Vasospastic angina link I posted in my reply to you above has a short animation describing the different types of angina at the beginning.

Have a read of the information and perhaps go and discuss everything with your Cardiologist or GP.

I hope this helps 😊

[SANH65 in reply to Milkfairy]

Hi milkfairy thank you for replying back, I will definitely have a look at the link on angina, I’m due to see my doctor next week as I’m still getting these spasms, especially if I’m stressed(and that’s at home) lm hoping to return to work my job is very stressful I’m worried of the impact this is having on my health

[Sevenstar]

Yes , I was hospitalised with a Coronary Artery Spasm , initially they thought it was a HA, the next night I had another but in hospital , had mild pain for a few days after , this was in July, now on Diltiziam , GNT spray if needed and Clopidogrel and touch wood haven't had any more!

[Healthyheart1 in reply to Sevenstar]

Hi Goldenheart, I like the cardiologists explanation of a footprint, it makes perfect sense to me. I too get coronary artery spasms which at the moment dare I say are controlled by medication. Not always but most of the time. I am aware of triggers and this helps as well.

It is scary and like a minefield at first, it took at least 18month for mine to start to be controlled and I hate it.

I wish you well and please keep co.ing back to this site, it's been a fantastic help to me and it continues to be. X Sheena

[Goldenheart in reply to Healthyheart1]

Hi, thankyou. I hate it too, i ve had nearly a year without,so yesterdays made me feel down again. A heated argument seemed to trigger it, it worried me as pain went into left arm and chest,lasted ages,but like i said earlier,that after pain makes it difficult to know whats going on. Is stress a trigger for you,as it is for me.plus running up stairs.

[Sevenstar in reply to Goldenheart]

Ps to previous message . Yes stress definitely anything that involves adrenaline surges , tv , laughter, crying , arguing and yes running up the stairs !

[Goldenheart in reply to Sevenstar]

Life it self then,lol. It does help knowing the cause and triggers, most dctrs ive seen just dismiss it as a transient little hiccup of a problem.with no known cause. Thank goodness for this lively forum, the knowledge from people suffering from this is priceless isnt it.

[Sevenstar in reply to Goldenheart]

When I mine in August it was after a lovely trip to Capri . It had been very hot , the flight was very late and Naples airport was very stressful and full of hot fumes !

My Cardiologist said that created the perfect storm !

Stress

Tiredness

Smoggy fumes

Heat

Alcohol ( has been to a party there)

Adrenaline

Those are the main triggers , for me at least !

You are right not many docs understand it, I was in hospital for 7 days , I googled research on Coronary Artery Spasms and gave it to the Consultant.

The next day I was discharged with the above 😬🙄

[Healthyheart1 in reply to Goldenheart]

Yes stress, dare I say my stress levels are up to the top of my head. I'm finding that I have to look after myself more. I cant run and I'm out of breath walking up stairs.

The cold is also a trigger. Sheena x

[Goldenheart in reply to Sevenstar]

Im on tildiem 300mg, which i thought a high enough dose, espec as i get bad side effects, do you mind me asking your dose,im continually searching for answers for this.

[Sevenstar in reply to Goldenheart]

Goldenheart, well I'm only on 60 mg at the moment , it does seem to be holding it at bay most of the time unless I get stressed! Adrenaline really sets things off ! But to be honest I'm not sure it's enough, I get very breathless and I'm so sensitive to drugs and even at that dose (I take at night) it wipes me out! I'm due a review and my cardiac rehab nurse said they will probs up my dose !

I also take Clopidogrel, occasionally GNT spray and statins ( which I don't always take) !

Hope that helps 💊🥰

[Goldenheart in reply to Sevenstar]

What dose is the clopidogrel,just curious as i m questioning my high dose. Sorry for pestering.

[Sevenstar in reply to Goldenheart]

Not pestering at all ! I'm on 75 I think it's the lowest dose , you?

[Goldenheart in reply to Sevenstar]

Hi,i dont take clopidogrel, just wondered if your dose was high,to compensate for low dose you take in the other meds. It all majes my 300mg seem too much. I know,a necessary evil i guess,but they wipe me out. Then again, if there supressing even worse symptoms,i need them. Does any ammount stop a big adrenaline surge though, it didnt yesterday.

[Sevenstar in reply to Goldenheart]

It's hard to control adrenaline especially if you are like me (highly strung constant worrier) ! My doc said Beta Blockers do but I don't know if you can take as well as Diltiziam , maybe 🤷‍♀️? Also for extreme stress ie a funeral or something emotional he suggested Valium on occasion.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Goldenheart]

Hi Goldenheart

It is frustrating that many Cardiologist have little understanding or knowledge about vasospastic and microvascular angina

Both are listed as possible causes of a heart attack in the European Society of Cardiology 4th definition of a myocardial infarction.

escardio.org/Guidelines/Cli...

Also discussed in the ESC Chronic Coronary syndromes too.

escardio.org/Guidelines/Cli...

Learning your triggers is really important.

Mine are the cold, emotional and mental stress.

Caffeine, adrenaline in local anaesthetics - tell your dentist.

Pseudoephedrine in cold and flu remedies

Artificial sweeteners

Chorizo sausages

My vasospastic angina is unfortunately really difficult to treat. I live with daily and nightly episodes of angina. I had 2 hospital admissions last year between 8 and 10 days for unstable angina.

You need to arm yourself with the relevant information and advocate for the care you need.

I really hope your medication works for you.

I have been taking 75mgs of Chlopidogrel for over 7 years.

Diltiaziem modified release 210mgs twice a day.

Along with lots of other medications too.

[Goldenheart in reply to Milkfairy]

Milk fairy,im so sorry to hear the daily pain you have to endure, its bad enough with occassional episodes,freqyent ones must be soul destroying. And you still manage to be kind and offer much welcomed support on here. Thankyou for this, its a very isolating illness, your knowledge makes it less so.

[Lizzie20]

Hi, I had a very bad coronary spasms last year, it felt like someone was continually squeezing my heart then letting go, it left me gasping for breath each time. I was sat on the sofa at the time reading so what set it off I don't know. I was given a Ranolazine by my cardiologist but there was a major interaction with another drug ( found by my pharmacist) I'm on so didn't take it, but my doctor does know, he's written to my cardiologist. Although I still take asprin. I hope this helps. Liz

[Goldenheart in reply to Lizzie20]

Lizzie, thanks,,any info helps,as its such a rare condition it all helps. I wonder if stents work ive heard mixed reviews on these, even that a spasm can crush a stent,or make spasms more frequent.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Goldenheart]

Hi Goldenheart

Have you seen this article?

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Goldenheart in reply to Milkfairy]

Server ip address could not be found, whatevr that means. I ll try it another way

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Goldenheart]

Try googling

Coronary artery spasm: Current knowledge and residual uncertainties☆

Massimo Slavich and Riyaz Patel

[Goldenheart in reply to Milkfairy]

Thanks,will do.

[Goldenheart in reply to Milkfairy]

Milk fairy, do you mind recommending an expert in the field of coronary spasm, if at all possible. Ive been thinking of seeing one since my diagnosis, the fear and uncertainty of these attacks stress me out . And would it involve tests too. I mean private.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Goldenheart]

Hi Goldenheart

I'll send you a message.

[Goldenheart]

Hi, just trued but cant get it, says browser error.