My GP thinks I may have Angina, I’m awaiting blood test results and have appointment with rapid assessment chest pain clinic for 9th June. GP given me aspirin and Bisoprolol beta blocker. He’s also given me a spray in case I get severe pain. I’ve never had a pain, just a tight uncomfortable feeling around my rib cage with shortness of breath which can last hours. The tightness and shortness of breath I’ve now had for 30 hours which worries me. Do beta blockers help with breathing? My shortness of breath has got worse over the past week and the tightness lasts longer, even when I’m resting. Does this mean I may be more at risk of a heart attack? I don’t know what to do. Any advice grateful received. Thanks.
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Yoga2011
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I don’t know enough / not qualified to advice on your question but just going on what you say about your breathing and tightness over last 30 hours and nothing relieving or feels worse / different the best thing is to seek medical advice.
Anything new / unusual or not relieving I believe should always be checked out.
I do not have enough knowledge on beta blockers to comment on whether they help with breathing however, many others on here take Bisoprolol and will be able to give you an insight into how this helps.
The GTN spray is a good resource to carry around. I know you said you don’t have any pain at the moment however, it is safe to keep it with you at all times, especially when you’re going out in case you do need it.
I don’t think anyone can tell you if you’re at an increased risk of a heart attack as a result of your symptoms. It definitely sounds like you need further investigations.
I personally experience chest tightness, pain and pressure in my chest as a result of having vasospastic angina. This is when my myocardial bridging (congenital heart defect) goes into spasm and restricts blood flow to my heart.
Please contact your GP or cardiologist again for an urgent review. With any severe chest pain, please call 111 or 999.
Let us know how you get on.
All the best.
Tos
Dear Yoga2011
A warm welcome to you and your first post.
You must be in shock over your news and I am glad that wheels are in motion for you to have a better understanding of your illness and the treatments that will be available to you.
The only thing that I don't understand with your Dr is him/her saying that the "Spray" is only for severe pains? I am presuming that this is a GTN spray?
You are showing classic sign of what your Dr has diagnosed as Angina and please believe me that many of us do not have any pain with Angina but certainly get a tight uncomfortable chest.
When this happens follow the instructions to the letter on using the spray, try and remain calm, certainly sitting if possible.
Please do not be frightened of the spray and use it as often as you need IF IT WORKS, you will know within moments.
If the GTN spray helps then this will also be a case for you possibly having Angina.
IF THE SPRAY GIVES YOU NO RELIEF, after following the instructions then dial 111 and follow what they say.
Take care, remember you are not alone and we are here to help you the best we can.
Thank you for your reply. I’m still shocked and confused as it wasn’t something I expected! I’ve never had pain but have the tight feeling around my ribs and I seem to need to breathe more as well. I’m wondering if it’s got worse since starting Bisoprolol 6 days ago? Maybe I’m just worried. I’m confused about the spray as to if to use it or not, as GP said for pain - I’m assuming he’s thinking I may have a heart attack as he said use it and go straight to A&E. My mum had a heart attack and didn’t get bad chest pain so it all confuses me! It is a GTN spray. Do I use it for severe shortness of breath? I know no one is an expert but I am very scared right now
bisoprolol and other beta blockers can make breathing problems feel worse
also if your heart is not working properly you can get short of breath because the oxygen which you heart pumps round your body is not reaching everywhere as soon as it should
I agree with Blue 1958 about using the spray - we all experience what the doctors call chest pain in different ways, mine was more like tightness too and this is quite common
there are many potential causes for shortness of breath - if this is your main symptom you should have a lung function test, just in case it is actually a problem with your lungs
I have a GTN spray too, to relieve angina 'pain'. In reality, for me and lots of others, it's not 'pain' as in a sharp pain. My angina is more like a pushing or tight feeling, or like someone poked me and there's a bruise. It's weird, not what I ever imagined angina to feel like, but there you go. If I get that feeling and use the spray, it settles within a minute or two. As far as I know, the spray opens the arteries to enable blood to flow more freely, thus stopping the pain caused by narrowed arteries (angina). I use it even for a mild 'pain', it can just make you a bit dizzy for a little while (due to the lowering of blood pressure when the arteries open wider), so I usually lie down for a bit and have a rest.
I also take metoprolol, a beta blocker. For me it has helped me to be less breathless and lots of people are on them. I have heard of some people who got worse and more breathless on the beta blocker though, so I'd definitely see the GP to tell them. There are numerous different beta blockers, so maybe a different one would work better for you, or the dr might give you something else altogether.
In any case, it sounds like its been getting worse, so it would be best to seek medical advice right away, even if it means going to the hospital.
thanks for replying. I’ll have a word with my GP and ask for a different type and see how it goes. Your pain sounds similar to mine, a tightness not an actual sharp pain. Good to know the spray works for you b
Last October while on a cruise I was hit by a massive pain in my chest. I went to the Medical Center on the ship where I was tested for over 3 hours. After all of the tests, including a blood test, the doctor told me that I had Angina pectoris, Stable Angina. He prescribed medication for me which he monitored over the rest of the 14 days. I am now being monitored by our GP practice and while still having pain when I exert too much, I can mostly relieve the pain by slowing my breathing, as demonstrated by a heart surgeon. Breath in through the nose and slowly breath out through your mouth.This may take a while to work, but after about 2 mins the pain diminishes. If the breathing doesn't work, then I use my spray. What has anoyed me, was that for over the previouse 12 months I had complained of chest pain to our previouse GP, he told me it was Arthritis in my ribs. Maybe if I had been diagnosed earlier, my angina might have been found and treated. After angina being explained to me and my wife, she is not as woried as she previously was. Being told that the heart tries to heal itself by creating small capiliery blood vessels while you are in pain, has made us feel easier about my condition. My advice is to sit down with your GP and let them explain what it Angina is, and how it can be somewhat controlled.
thank you for the info, I had no idea heart could try to heal itself, reassuring to read that. The breathing exercise is useful, I’ll certainly try that. Glad you are doing ok
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