heart spams

[daisys]

I have been diagnosed with heart spasms. How safe or dangerous is it to take a long distance car trip - I would be miles, possible hours before a emergency vehicle could get to me - if I needed them.

[joanincarolina]

Hi; I have a big problem with heart spasms that I have had for 5 years. Ed and Kenkeith do ask the correct questions. I do drive a car very short distances, on secondary roads, and when I am feeling totally ok. I would not drive any long distance by myself. Let your own driving reactions to the things that can happen behind the wheel of a car determine whether or not you drive. Spasms, in my experience, are unpredictable and certainly that adrenaline rush in an anxious moment/situation driving can set off a spasm putting you at risk. Emergency help is nitro spray, whether you administer it or you wait for emergency help from ambulance or police help. Just the fact that you ask the question should tell you that the stress of driving can put you or others in harm's way.
The other better medication for spasms is a calcium channel blocker. Joan.

[kenkeith]

Ed asks the right questions.  Your past experience with your symptoms would help you to understand the risks.  ... with consideration during the period of spasm itself, the oxygen-starved heart muscle can trigger dangerous and potentially fatal heart arrhythmias.  Do you have any irregular heartbeats? Are you on beta blocker medication?

[ed34]

The first thing I have to ask is are you travelling alone? If so, does your insurance company know you have vasospasms? and they are happy for you to drive?
How often do you get the attacks? How badly do they affect you? Do you have an emergency Nitro spray to hand at all times?