MINOCA

[SianiWallis]

Has anyone had a MINOCA heart attack?? My heart attack happened in May, and following several tests, i've been told my heart is functioning properly and I do not have obstructed arteries.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello,

Welcome to the forum.

A myocardial infarction non obstructive coronary arteries MINOCA is the cause of about 10% of heart attacks.

This type of heart attack has only recently been recognised, it effrcts women more than men.

The common causes are microvascular dysfunction, coronary vasospasms, spontaneous coronary artery dissection, SCAD, a small piece of plaque breaking off, or a blood clot blocking an artery.

Have your Cardiology team offered you any tests to determine the underlying cause of your MINOCA?

It's important to find out so you can be offered the appropriate treatment.

A MRI can diagnose microvascular dysfunction which causes microvascular angina in some cases.

Over 11 years ago I was admitted to hospital with a suspected heart. I was incorrectly told I couldn't have angina or a heart attack because my coronary arteries were unobstructed.

Later I had a specialised angiogram and diagnosed with vasospastic angina.

The BHF has this information about microvascular and vasospastic angina. The umbrella term for these heart conditions ischaemia/ angina non obstructive coronary arteries INOCA / ANOCA .

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo....

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

[Aspenblue]

I had a heart attack in April and much the same as you, have no lasting effects. It was my GP that told me about INOCA. I struggle with the why, why has it happened, as I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and vitamin D deficiency prior to this. 4 weeks after starting these meds they were back to normal and I had a heart attack.

I am worried it will happen again like everyone does after a heart attack, but I am doing things to help prevent it.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Aspenblue]

Hello,

Good to hear that your GP knows about INOCA.

INOCA, Ischaemia non obstructive coronary arteries is an umbrella term for microvascular and vasospastic angina.

Have you been offered any further tests to determine the cause of your

heart attack?

You can then be offered medication to help prevent another heart attack.

I have lived with vasospastic angina for over 11 years, it's a less common type of INOCA.

As well as taking medication to help prevent coronary vasospasms spasms, I am also prescribed an antiplatelet and statins.

[Aspenblue in reply to Milkfairy]

I haven't been offered any further tests.Cardiologist has discharged me.

I will certainly look into it though.

I am on the usual concoction of medication prescribed after a heart attack and I am doing okay.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Aspenblue]

Good to hear you are doing well.

[Tos92]

I’m sorry to hear about your MINOCA. I had one at the beginning of Jan last year. My MINOCA was thought to be as a result of my myocardial bridging (congenital heart defect) spasming long enough to trigger a heart attack. My coronary arteries were also clear and tests from the middle of this year show that my heart is functioning well. I do however, have coronary artery spasms and I am currently waiting to see a specialist as I continue to remain symptomatic with angina.

Did they rule out the cause of your MINOCA?

Wishing you all the best and I hope you have a lovely new year!

Tos

[rosyG]

Ihad an angiogram and then aCardiac MRI yesterday I'll post findings when I get them as it should show have had MI or if something else