Recovery from Coronary Spastic Angina

I have a history of congestive heart failure on my mother's side.  I also have a mitral valve prolapse.  In addition, all of my life, I have experienced occasional "skipped" heartbeats, especially during times of stress.

A month and a half ago, I awoke early in the morning with mild symptoms of a heart attack.  I had been under stress at work during the past six months, occasionally experiencing skipped or racing heartbeats which went away if I sat quietly and breathed deeply for ten minutes or so.

After a visit to the emergency room, x-rays, blood tests, a stress test, and an angiogram which showed no blockage whatsoever, the doctors concluded that I had experienced an "arterial spasm" due to stress.  I was given a vasodialator (the prescription with refills will last five months), nitroglycerine tablets, and admonitions to work on reducing stress and a borderline cholesterol level and increasing my exercise level--walking every day was suggested.

Having read about the causes and treatments for "coronary spastic angina," which sounds a lot like what I experienced, I am wondering what a realistic timeframe might be for getting off the medications I am taking, assuming that I continue with my current program of improved diet, stress reduction, and exercise.

Thanks very much.

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

It depends. If the blood work and other tests were all normal and there was no indication of a heart attack, you probably did not really ever have anything wrong with your heart. Coronary artery spasm is in actuality pretty rare. If you truly did have coronary artery spasm and not stress as the cause of your symptoms, you would not want to ever stop taking medication. I suspect your doctors really think that your symptoms were due to stress and not true coronary artery spasm, but you should discuss the situation with them before stopping any medications.

[dianeb213]

A related discussion, "Spastic Angina" was started.