Angina triggers, emotions & meals....

[DM_56]

Hi all. Having recently had the diagnosis, I am avoiding strenuous exercise to avoid an episode. However, I find I am very affected by my emotions (finding things tough getting my head around the diagnosis) and meals both resulting in 'light' chest aches rather than pains, which I find I can 'breath through'. Anyone else found this to be the norm? Thanks

[meadfoot]

Stress and anxiety exacerbate symptoms as i have found to my cost ongoing. Please seek help from your medics for emotional support and a referral for counselling if appropriate. Please dont suffer in silence or just put up with it its not good for either your physical or mental health. Best wishes.

[DM_56 in reply to meadfoot]

Thanks for your reply. It is much appreciated. I have contacted some local counsellors hoping they can help.

[Sunnie2day]

The stress of angina is enormous and causes all sorts of related symptoms like heartburn with meals (has to do with anxiety unconsciously causing breathing patterns to change which has an unfortunate consequence of changing the way you breathe while eating, if that helps any) but it sounds as though you're on the right track 'breathing through' and looking into local counselling.

The worst part is the waiting to know what exactly is causing the angina. Until you know what and why, you don't know if any physical move you make might cause a serious 'consequence' (heart attack, long-term damage to your heart muscle...). And that is extremely stressful.

You write you're being careful about strenuous exercise and every one of us with angina understand what you're going through - you don't know why you have angina until the diagnostic tests are done and results come in - so you consciously keep yourself from 'overdoing' in hope of avoiding a heart attack. And that quite reasonable caution is very stressful!

When I'm stressed I have a tendency to stop-start-stop breathing and I have to actually remind myself to breathe normally. I also, like many, tense muscles to the point they ache, and I experience any number of other anxiety related physical symptoms. I find cognitive behaviour techniques to be quite helpful coping, especially when waiting for the latest round of investigations and results.

Anxiety - definitely not for beginners!

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

There’s lots of work to be done, analysing the triggers for you, individually. Then you will be looking for ways to avoid or deal with it. This time spent is really, really worth-while.