prinzmetal angina?

[street-air]

on three occasions in three years approximately, I have been woken by what feels like a heart attack. The second time I do an outpatient blood draw and ecg and no heart attack flags found. Then full cardio workup no arterial narrowing found, no calcium etc. Minor valve regurgitation and I get exercise induced atrial flutter, sometimes.

The last time was last night. 5 minutes. woken by the pain. inner left arm. Pulse went up to 80 from 45 and then almost like a switch, it turned off.

it seems to me like prinzmetal angina? so when I get back from this holiday should I go back to cardio specialists and ask them to look into that as a cause? with one attack a year should I be on drugs, or get something to take when I feel an attack? thanks

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello,

Welcome to the forum

I have lived with vasospastic angina for over 12 years.

I tend to experience most of my chest pain at rest especially during the night.

Sublingual GTN spray can be helpful to reduce a coronary vasospasm quickly.

I am also on medication to help reduce my coronary vasospasms.

The BHF has this information about vasospastic angina.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

This is article, was co authored by a leading world expert in caring for patients living with microvascular and vasospastic angina, who is based in Australia.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10...

Perhaps read them through and then make an appointment with a Cardiologist?

[street-air in reply to Milkfairy]

thanks, may I ask, how often it hits? It seems to be a wide range from infrequent to debilitating. I am wondering if it is going to continue at this frequency or less whether I need to be pro active with meds and so on. Its scary as hell when it occurs. Thats for sure.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to street-air]

I am unfortunately badly affected and don't respond particularly well to my medication. It's cold here at the moment in the UK, so I am getting lots more episodes of chestpain. When I have crescending episodes of chest pain, I go to hospital and I am admitted.

There are some people who's introduction to vasospastic angina, is by one single, severe coronary vasospasm in isolation causing a heart attack.

I suggest you discuss with a Cardiologist what is the best way forward for you.