Recling position and angina

[dandiamant]

I have been plagued for decades with unstable angina.....Hospitalized a few times, in a reputable hospital with more than qualified advice from my cardiologist, bypass surgeon and ICU director, I have been on a regemin of sublingual nitro tabs, nitro drugs, and patches , in various routeens, night and day...I had a quad pypass 11 years ago , and my surgeon who does "less invasive intra-rib" bypass operations says I am not a candidate , probably because of my advanced age of 91.....Each dismissal from the hospital I was advised that I should take a nitro pill if I have pain , and no more than every one every 15 minutes, if necessary, and no more than three in a row, which would cause a dangerous drop in bloodpressure...the third one should accompany an emergency call....not a pleasant prospect....About five days ago I was sent home....That evening I had the usual early stage of an angina attack,,,,I arose  from my bed and sat in an easy chair , in a semi reclining posituation, and for the first time , the pain subsided ......I have since been sleeping in a reclining position, without sublingual pills or pain....Why ? What is the mechanics behind the change of sleeping position , and is my experience unusual ?

[Ger57]

The mechanics behind it are quite simple I think.

-The more relaxed position you have, the less muscle activity is needed so the less oxygen your body needs > heart needs less oxygen
-The less compression force is applied to the heart area, the easier and the more efficient the heart can perform its pumping action > heart needs less oxygen
-More horizontal position lowers blood pressure making pumping easier > heart needs less oxygen

There are much more things that have influence on the amount of oxygen the heart needs that can be taken into account (full stomach, warm environment, etc)

When you create the situation where the least oxygen is needed for your heart, you may expect the least angina discomfort.

[Grandkids_make_the_fight_worth_it]

I recently had my 15th stent after quadruple bypass 15 years ago which collapsed shortly after.  Three of the four did.  They placed three stents this time. I have been unable to sleep laying down now without severe angina inspire of the three new stents.  Heart is getting about 50 percent blood.  I don't wear my patch at night because I need it in the daytime and you are only supposed to wear for 12 hours max per day.  So now I am sleeping sitting up and it is really difficult but cures the severe and scary angina at night.  I was losing sleep and spraying every night.  Really scary stuff.  Reclined sleep is hard but better than the alternative of no sleep and pain.  We are going to find a hospital style bed that has two sides so my wife will be okay.  Maybe this will be better than stuffing pillows behind me.  It must be something to do with gravity of blood flow to the heart itself.  Hope you are still hanging in there.  That is all we can do when it is so progressive.  God bless!