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Heart attack or heart spasm.......comfused
I am a HEALTHY 62 year old woman with no medical history of heart problems. Actually I have not been in the hospital since i was 27 yrs old.
Recently I was in the CCU for what I was first told was a heart attack. EKG was clear, showed no signs of an attack. The enzime test that was done was high and then another test was done 4 hours later and it was higher. This is when I was told that I had a heart attack. I was given a shot of nitro and it helped with the pain that I had in the center of my chest. That was the only sign I had was that pain. After 3 days in the CCU, I had the scope done of my heart where they go up through the leg. This test showed no blockages. Everything was clear. During the test they had to give me another shot of Nitro as the pain started up again. Then I spoke with the Dr and he told me that I did not have an attack but a spasm? Is this possible? And if so then why was the Enzime levels high? Will it come back again? Can it cause a heart attack?
Recently I was in the CCU for what I was first told was a heart attack. EKG was clear, showed no signs of an attack. The enzime test that was done was high and then another test was done 4 hours later and it was higher. This is when I was told that I had a heart attack. I was given a shot of nitro and it helped with the pain that I had in the center of my chest. That was the only sign I had was that pain. After 3 days in the CCU, I had the scope done of my heart where they go up through the leg. This test showed no blockages. Everything was clear. During the test they had to give me another shot of Nitro as the pain started up again. Then I spoke with the Dr and he told me that I did not have an attack but a spasm? Is this possible? And if so then why was the Enzime levels high? Will it come back again? Can it cause a heart attack?
There is a possibility that the catheter you recently had in your arteries could have caused it to worsen. Some people never have spasms, then when the catheter tickles the artery lining, they go beserk. Much is unknown about vasospasm, and luckily some medications do control it for some people. Nitro works with most people, but not all. Some people find there are things which trigger the spasms and avoid those things, but it's pure luck if you discover it. Calcium channel blockers worked great for me in the few months I suffered from it. Mine was caused by a catheter setting it off.
Not having access to your medical records I can only hazard a guess as to what is going on.
The "spasm" is generally in the major blood vessels providing the heart with oxygen and nutrients. If this spasm stops the blood flow to the heart there may be damage to the tissue. Damage to the tissue is reflected by the so-called cardiac enzyme test. If there is damage to the heart muscle there will be a high level of these enzymes. The test is faily definitive.
The reasons for the spasms are unclear. Magnesium deficiency is one posible reason. Ask your doctor before taking supplements. Magnesium glycinate is often prescribed.
If there is heart damage there is often an irregularity on the EKG, specifically a depressed ST segment.
Generally such a patient will be provided with sublingual nitroglycerine, and if they develop any signs of oxygen deficiency (substernal pain, for example) they place the tablet under the tongue. The nitroglycerine is a vasodilator and releases the spasm and restores normal blood flow to the heart.
Statistically those who have had such spasms generally have additional episodes. There is usually a co-factor, which is a natural narrowing of the walls of the blood vessel, generally due to atheroschlerotic deposits.
You should be able to live a reasonably normal life.
In the event you have dull chest pain, or numbness in your left arm or shoulder, stop what you are doing and rest. It is important to reduce the oxygen demands on the body. Always keep the nitroglycerine tablets with you. Once you open a bottle they must be replaced within ninety days because the tablets are hygroscopic and absorb water, degrading their efficiency.
The "spasm" is generally in the major blood vessels providing the heart with oxygen and nutrients. If this spasm stops the blood flow to the heart there may be damage to the tissue. Damage to the tissue is reflected by the so-called cardiac enzyme test. If there is damage to the heart muscle there will be a high level of these enzymes. The test is faily definitive.
The reasons for the spasms are unclear. Magnesium deficiency is one posible reason. Ask your doctor before taking supplements. Magnesium glycinate is often prescribed.
If there is heart damage there is often an irregularity on the EKG, specifically a depressed ST segment.
Generally such a patient will be provided with sublingual nitroglycerine, and if they develop any signs of oxygen deficiency (substernal pain, for example) they place the tablet under the tongue. The nitroglycerine is a vasodilator and releases the spasm and restores normal blood flow to the heart.
Statistically those who have had such spasms generally have additional episodes. There is usually a co-factor, which is a natural narrowing of the walls of the blood vessel, generally due to atheroschlerotic deposits.
You should be able to live a reasonably normal life.
In the event you have dull chest pain, or numbness in your left arm or shoulder, stop what you are doing and rest. It is important to reduce the oxygen demands on the body. Always keep the nitroglycerine tablets with you. Once you open a bottle they must be replaced within ninety days because the tablets are hygroscopic and absorb water, degrading their efficiency.
Yes to answer your questions. I have been suffering with coronary spasms for the past few years. And, yes, the chest pain is much like the pain I had with my heart attacks. In my case, I do have CAD and blockages. But with a lot of others, there is the chest pain with the spasms but the arteries are clear. I carry the Nitroquick with me at all times. This always stops the chest pains. These spasms wake me from a dead sleep also. In addition to the nitroquick, I am taking Isosorbide which is a long lasting nitrate and a calcium channel blocker. It took some trial and error to find the right med and dose that helps, but saddly, it doesn't cure it. Just controls it. Do a search on vasospasms or small vessel disease. You can get a lot of other info on this. I should add that I take magnesium supplements to help with the spasms. Take care and do follow up with a cardiologist. Ally
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