Angina Support Group
Angina pectoris is chest pain due to ischemia (a lack of blood and hence oxygen supply) to the heart muscle, generally due to obstruction or spasm of the coronary arteries (the heart's blood vessels). Coronary artery disease, the main cause of angina, is due to atherosclerosis of the cardiac arteries.
I found this group today and thought that I MIGHT find some others who have been diagnosed with this. According to my cardio, it isn't all that common and there really isn't a lot of information out there. Apparently, having this diagnosis is both a fortunate and unfortunate thing. Fortunate I have a name and can add/adjust my meds accordingly when an attack shows its face, and unfortunate that I can't get answers and feel that I have to manage myself without knowledge, only nitrates. For those who aren't familiar with Prinzmetal, this is basically your heart going into spasms while at rest. It typically will happen between the hours of midnight and 8 am and presents (in me) with all of the same symptoms as a heart attack in progress. Attacks tend to happen in clusters and can intermittently hit for weeks. Anxiety tends to take over as well. I believe that another name for this is Variant Angina. Possibly this is a more popular name than Prinzmetal. Attacks are relieved by nitro, but as soon as the nitro starts to leave your system, it will start up again. Usually, an attack will last me about 2 hours with short intervals of relief and MANY sprays of my nitro. Any of this sound familiar to anyone out there? If so, I'd love to hear from you and learn if you are doing anything different than I am.
Thanks!
Thanks!
deleted_user
I am having the same symptoms and as a matter of fact I literally just got out of the hospital today because I was having chest pain at rest off and on for the last two weeks. I had a heart attack in my LAD two weeks ago and these symptoms started two days after I got home. A hospital employee from the Phillips Women's Heart Program came in to see me today before I was released and when I told her the symptoms I was having, she told me to talk to my cardiologist about Prinzmetal angina. They did an angiogram on me and couldn't find anything wrong while I was in the hospital but when I googled it online tonight it sounds like what I have been experiencing. According to the women and what I have read that calcium channel blockers can be effective in treating the symptoms and that it should be used before or along with nitro. I am going to call my cardiologist tomorrow to see if she thinks it could be what I am have. The women and the research I have done said that the calcium channel blockers have been very effective in treating it. I have been diagnosed with angina in the past, but it wasn't until after my MI that I started experiencing these symptoms. Part of me is hoping that they do diagnose me with it because then I will at least have peace of mind that it can be treated and don't have to worry so much on whether I am having another MI or not. I will keep you posted on what my doctor says.
julieshaw
I am 48 yrs old and have had prinzmeta for 5 yrs. I also have the same symptoms as you. I can go for weeks or months with nothing then it's back. My bad attacks last about 2 hours and much use of nitro spray. I also get attacks in clusters. I find mine is worse after eating. Hope yr feeling better.
char81
Hi I have primetzels angina due to coronary artery spasms. I see a cardiologist. Its true it is a rare condition not much is known about it. I have had angiograms they look for blockages, had no blockages through more tests and ecgs the cas was discovered. Its not a easy thing to detect. The symptoms are the same as angina the cause is due to the muscles in your arteries going into spasm causing a reduced blood and oxygen supply. Its a chronic uncurable condition that can be painfull and tiring. I find I have times where gtn helps and times where it does not. I am on calcium channel blockers and renexa to help relive the pain. As there can be a complication of it flipping into a heart attack you will be likely to be prescribed statins and aspirin. Hope this gives you some helpfull information.
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