damaged heart

[Keepmewell]

hi recently had a heart attack and had loads of tests done when I was discharged they put Myocardial Infarction with normal coronary arteries. Does this mean that my heart is now damaged?

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello and Welcome to the forum.

Myocardial Infarction non obstructive coronary arteries MINOCA is a less common type of heart attack. It's more common in women and is thought to be responsible for about 10% of all heart attacks.

The possible causes are Ischaemia/ Angina non obstructive coronary arteries INOCA/ANOCA.

This is an umbrella term for microvascular and vasospastic angina.

Other possible causes of a MINOCA are spontaneous coronary artery dissection SCAD or a piece of plaque breaking off or a blood clot blocking a coronary artery.

Has your Cardiology team said why they think you had a MINOCA?

It's important to know why so you can be offered the appropriate treatment and ongoing secondary prevention.

Have you been offered cardiac rehabilitation?

It's good to see your Cardiology team have recognised your MINOCA.

When I was admitted to hospital 11 years ago with a suspected heart attack, I was incorrectly told I couldn't have angina or a heart attack as my coronary arteries are unblocked.

I was later diagnosed with vasospastic angina following a specialised angiogram.

[Keepmewell in reply to Milkfairy]

No they haven’t said why I had a minoca although I put mine down to stress as I have had mental health issues for years.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Keepmewell]

Maybe ask at your follow up appointment?

High levels of stress can trigger a severe coronary vasospasm.

There is another condition that can be very much like a MINOCA known as Takostubo Syndrome which can occur following extreme emotional stress. This can be a happy or sad event.

Have you had a cardiac perfusion MRI?

[Keepmewell in reply to Milkfairy]

No haven’t had that test done.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Keepmewell]

A cardiac perfusion MRI can look at the heart muscle itself. It can diagnose myocarditis or detect scarring or damage from a previous heart attack.

In some cases it can help to diagnose microvascular dysfunction.

Perhaps discuss this test at your follow up appointment with the Cardiologist.

[Tos92 in reply to Keepmewell]

Keepmewell as Milkfairy has indicated, high levels of stress can trigger a coronary spasm.

I had an NSTEMI/MINOCA last year which is believed to be due to stress. It was a delayed response to the stress, as the event that caused the stress had happened the night before, and I had the heart attack the following day.

It maybe a worth while chat to have with your cardiologist. I hope you find out the cause soon.

All the best.

Tos

[Keepmewell in reply to Tos92]

thank you