SVD, or Microvascular Angina - are they the same thing?

[LilySav]

I've just been reading an old post about Microvascular Angina from 6yrs ago by Dunestar and it's triggered a quick question ...is Small Vessel Disease similar, the same, related or something totally different? There seems ( to me) to be so much overlap with meds and symptoms, I'm getting myself in a tizz.

Dunestar, like you mentioned in your old post, my partner has breathlessness but no pain ... SVD has been mentioned and this is what he's currently being treated for but GP is very relaxed about it because his echo results are stable and BNP blood test (which show how well the heart is working) is normal.

All quite strange as his medical records from 2017 had a note which said 'HF Heart failure'.

So much to learn ...

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Small vessel disease, can refer to the micro vessels in your brain or heart.

In the past it was sometimes used to describe coronary microvascular dysfunction, which causes microvascular angina.

The terminology has evolved over the years.

SVD in the UK tends to be now used to describe a problem with the small vessels in the brain. There is ongoing research to investigate the possible relationship between cerebral (brain) and coronary small vessel disease.

Microvascular angina along with vasospastic angina are now referred to as angina/ ischaemia non obstructive coronary arteries ANOCA/INOCA.

Microvascular angina is thought to be due to the inability of the small blood vessels of the heart not working properly, either unable to dilate or stay dilated in response to extra demands like exercise.

Commons symptoms are chest pain on exertion and breathlessness.

Breathlessness is sometimes the only symptom someone with microvascular angina experiences.

Vasospastic angina is rarer, it's caused by transient constrictions of the coronary arteries. It causes prolonged episodes of severe chest pain which tend to happen at rest, especially during the night.

Like any heart condition, as well as, taking medication, life style changes need to be considered.

Eating a heart healthy diet, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight is important, as well as managing stress and anxiety.

I had an angiogram with acetylcholine in 2014, which induced my coronary vasospasms, I was given morphine as a result. I acknowledge your husband's desire not to be 'prodded and poked'

My cardiac perfusion MRI also triggered an episode of coronary vasospasms and I ended up in A&E.

I don't wish to have another angiogram or MRI unless absolutely necessary.

I have regular echoes and my NT proBNP levels checked to monitor my heart.

It is now possible to diagnose microvascular dysfunction in non invasive ways, such as a stress echo and cardiac perfusion MRI.

The BHF has this information about microvascular angina.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

There is also more information on this website created by four patients who live with ANOCA, they work with world leading experts.

internationalheartspasmsall...

[LilySav in reply to Milkfairy]

Thank you, as always, for your steadying reply and knowledge. It really help to have a clear understanding of matter when you're sitting in front of a GP. and much less panic-inducing than Dr Google

LilySav