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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Coronary Artery Spasms
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Coronary Artery Spasms
by Clara__0, Sep 26, 1998 12:00AM
Approximately 10 weeks ago I experienced a prolonged episode of heaviness in my chest at work. The episode was preceded by a couple of days of feeling fatigued and nauseated. The Medical Dept. at work convinced me to phone my physician; who instructed me to go to E.R.
My cardiac enzymes were abnormal and I was admitted with a diagnosis of a slight heart attack. During cardiac catherization, one of my arteries went into spasm. The final diagnosis was MI secondary to coronary artery spasms of unknown origin. I am very frustrated because my cardiologist cannot tell me what caused the spasm and what I can do to prevent the problem from happening again other than to de-stress my life (I am a forty year old African American attorney). I do not have any of the risk factors for heart disease. I do have MVP which has always been asymptomatic. My cardiologist initially put me on a low dosage of Norvasc but discontinued it after I started experiencing dizzy spells. The spells stopped after I was off the medicine for a week or so. I feel so powerless.
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Dear Clara
Coronary artery spasm can cause heart attacks, but true coronary artery spasm is rare. The most common cause these days is cocaine use. Older migraine medicines also used to cause spasm. Calcium channel blockers (like Norvasc) and long acting nitroglycerin preparations almost always eliminate spasm in people with no underlying cause. Also, a cardiac catheterization can itself cause spasm, especially at the origins of the heart arteries. What did the rest of your cardiac catheterization show?
I hope this has been useful. Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck.
Information provided here is of a general nature. Specific diagnoses and treatments can only be made by your doctor. If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist at Desk F15.
My cardiac enzymes were abnormal and I was admitted with a diagnosis of a slight heart attack. During cardiac catherization, one of my arteries went into spasm. The final diagnosis was MI secondary to coronary artery spasms of unknown origin. I am very frustrated because my cardiologist cannot tell me what caused the spasm and what I can do to prevent the problem from happening again other than to de-stress my life (I am a forty year old African American attorney). I do not have any of the risk factors for heart disease. I do have MVP which has always been asymptomatic. My cardiologist initially put me on a low dosage of Norvasc but discontinued it after I started experiencing dizzy spells. The spells stopped after I was off the medicine for a week or so. I feel so powerless.
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Dear Clara
Coronary artery spasm can cause heart attacks, but true coronary artery spasm is rare. The most common cause these days is cocaine use. Older migraine medicines also used to cause spasm. Calcium channel blockers (like Norvasc) and long acting nitroglycerin preparations almost always eliminate spasm in people with no underlying cause. Also, a cardiac catheterization can itself cause spasm, especially at the origins of the heart arteries. What did the rest of your cardiac catheterization show?
I hope this has been useful. Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck.
Information provided here is of a general nature. Specific diagnoses and treatments can only be made by your doctor. If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist at Desk F15.
