Angina gone?

Question

Is it possible for angina to go away?  I have had chest pains for about a year now, several times week.  About a month ago, I had several severe angina attacks over the course of a couple of weeks, 3 of which occurred at night.  The last one so bad I was terrified to even move, severe chest pressure, burning pain, and choking sensation. The next day I felt rather fatigued and weak. After the second day, I started feeling better and found it was easier to get a full breath that it had been in months.  It has been nearly a month since I've experienced any angina.  Is it possible for it to just go away?

SilverLining00 · Answer

Thank you all for your replies.  I had an echocardiogram and a nuclear stress test last summer.  They both came out fine, no blockages.  The cardiologist suspected my chest pains may be caused by vasospasms and put me on a calcium channel blocker.  The funny thing about this whole last series of angina attacks is that I saw my cardiologist a week after the worst one and he didn't seem phased at all.  He said maybe he'd run more tests next summer.  I'm 50 next week, too young by his book.  In addition, the only risk factor is a sedentary life style, which I no longer have.  My BP is good (occasional spikes), and my cholesterol, although a little high (as of last summer) at 213, the ratio was good, so he didn't have any comments on it.  This whole business of having to have a primary care physicians drive my crazy, otherwise, I might have gotten checked out by someone else.  I sort of feel trapped here.  I was hoping that the angina might be gone for good.

kenkeith · Answer

I agree you should be tested for any coronary attery blockage. And you should be tested to determine if there is any heart muscle damage. It is possible to have had a heart attack (heart muscle damage) and not experience any further symptoms until congested heart failure, etc. Heart muscle damage impairs effective contractions causiing a reduction in cardiac output, and will/can cause serious and an irreversible medical condition. Treatment time is also a factor if there is cell negrosis.

Flycaster305 · Answer

I agree with vangellis about seeing the doctor.

I've had the same experience where a severe angina session is followed by no angina.  When I had my last Cath and a stent in January 2008, I was told that a small arterial branch was almost completely blocked but it was too small to receive a stent, and there was evidence that the tiny arteries around the area were already enlarging to help out the blocked artery.  The doc said to expect some Angina, but not to worry.  Well, I did get severe angina when it blocked totally and I did worry, I wasn't in a position to sort our which artery was blocked and off the hospital I went again.  There was no heart damage but it is weakened.  Small Artery Disease is pretty common but still dangerous to your heart.  I'd get it checked.

vangellis · Answer

Hi
I dont mean to worry you, but the symptoms you describe sound as though you experienced a mild heart attack. It sounds as though you had a partial blockage which caused the heart attack but thanks to the grace of god it cleared itself. If I were you I would go and see my GP straight away and tell him what you experienced.
And yes, it is possible for angina to go away, but normaly only after bypass surgery or having a stent fitted, I would certainly get it checked.
vangellis