Anxiety after heart attack

[Kaydee24]

I had an NSTEMI in December 2023; they expanded one of my coronary arteries with a balloon angioplasty. I have had anxiety on and off all my life, and it has been particularly bad over the past months. I am on an antidepressant, and worry about that possibly affecting my heart. Some of the time I can tell myself that the doctors cleared my artery, and I am on the usual meds (anti-platelet, beta blocker, famotidine to protect my stomach from the anti-platelet and statins), so the risk of another heart attack should be low. I get some chest pain, mostly a sore feeling - I have attended A&E 5 times since the heart attack and every time the ECG and troponins have been normal. Any advice on how to worry less about a future heart problem?

[Happyrosie]

I’d say, Kaydee, that the issue isn’t your heart as such but your reaction to the illness you’ve had, and what you’ve been through. Really a normal reaction but maybe a little bit exaggerated.

Did you get cardio rehab? If you did, some centres give comprehensive notes on what got covered and anxiety would have been amongst them (it was with mine anyway). If you did, revisit those notes.

The NHS gives some really helpful advice - look it up on its website under “depression”. Gentle exercise, a good diet with plenty of fresh vegetables, listen to your body, go out for a coffee with a friend

[Kaydee24 in reply to Happyrosie]

I think some of the problem has been that the heart attack meant I had to change my antidepressant - I was on an old type that isn't safe immediately after a heart attack. I don't think the one I'm on at present is helping enough. I had cardiac rehab, at home with the Heart Manual - it did talk a bit about anxiety, mostly stating obvious things. None of it is helped by the fact that I live over 20 miles from the hospital and live alone since my partner died almost 3 years ago - with the state of the ambulance service, I'd be in trouble if an emergency did develop.

[BeKind28-]

Hello

I know the feeling as I have anxiety and have for years and had 3 heart attacks and a triple Bypass and even though I have had the Bypasses I still worry and never thought my anxiety could get worse but it has

There are lots of antidepressants that you can still take after a heart event it depends on what other meds etc you take though which you can take I do know that one a lot of Consultants suggest is Sertraline I am not sure if you have tried that but Consultants seem to suggest it alot

Could be one to ask about if it would be suitable ?

You are not alone in how you feel and let us know how you get on x