coronary Artery spasm

[Boharford]

Hi was taken in after111 call for chest infection and chest pain.

I have stents . My wife was told to drive me to A&E quickly as there ere no ambulances available

Waiting room wa s rammed with sick people. Long story short Iwas sitting in chairs and on trolley in corridor for 5 days. Eventually admitted to Cardiac ward - they couldn't do angiogram until the Pneumonia had been fixed by intravenous antibiotics.

Scheduled for An angio on n Thursday but cancelled as they were busy, Had angio Friday. The surgeon said he thought I had a blockage to Stent but injected some nitro stuff and the blockage disappeared. He diagnoses Aterial spasm and this has been causing my pain for quite a few months now.

My question is does anyone have advice on managing this condition> re exercise etc.

I was prescribed Isosorbide mononitrate and ramipril. (which is an issue as I carry epi-pens for anaphylaxis- a pharmacist once stopped the Ramipril as it could stop the adrenaline working)

Any tips welcome as the condition wasn't explained at the hospita

Thanks

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello,

I have lived with vasospastic angina for over 11 years. Vasospastic angina is now the term more commonly used to describe coronary artery spasms.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

The BHF has this information about vasospastic angina.

The usual medication offered to help prevent coronary artery vasospasms is a calcium channel blocker such as Diltiazem.

Beta blockers should be avoided.

I can exercise, however I experience chestpain at rest especially during the night.

I have to do a long slow warm up and cooling down afterwards. I have to keep my heartrate below a certain level or I will experience delayed chest pain afterwards.

Keeping a diary can help you identify your triggers of angina.

Common triggers are the cold, emotional, mental and physical stress.

I am not looking forward to the upcoming cold weather. I wear loads of thermal layers and cover my nose and mouth when I go out in the cold. Breathing in cold air can trigger my chest pain.

It's important to avoid medication that cause vasoconstrictions.

You obviously need to take your adrenaline in an emergency however you need a plan to manage any coronary vasospasms that may be triggered by the adrenaline, as it constricts the blood vessels. I suggest you discuss this issue with your Cardiologist or Pharmacist.

Have you been prescribed a GTN spray?

It is a good way of treating a coronary vasospasm quickly.

There is this website created by four patients with over 60 years combined experience of living with microvascular and vasospastic angina. They are supported by 30 world leading expert Cardiologists.

internationalheartspasmsall...

I suggest you ask to be reviewed by a Cardiologist who has some understanding of vasospastic angina.

It can take sometime to find the best combination of medication that will work best for you as an individual.