I don't know why the ****** showed up instead of the words drug and therapy. But in case it happens again, the ******** in the above post means other than medication there is no "cure" for this issue.
Variant angina is a problem that can be difficult to understand because it is NOT caused by a blockage in the artery, but a spasm that can cause the artery to close thereby stopping blood flow to certain areas of the heart. All arteries have smooth muscle tissue surrounding them. These muscles contract or "spasm" for currently undefined reasons in patients experiencing these variant angina attacks. Researchers think that there is a problem with the chemistry in the cells surrounding the artery. Normally, when constriction of arteries is ordered by the brain, smooth muscle tissues around the coronary arteries release nitrous oxide which relaxes those tissues and releases any pressure on these cardiac vessels. So, while your generall blood pressure is increased, your cardiac vessels remain open and allow blood flow to the heart muscle. In people with variant angina, it is believed that the mechanism that allows nitrous oxide to be released is "broken" and therefore the muscle contracts or "spasms" causing the blood supply to the heart to be dramatically slowed or stopped.
A stent and/or angioplasty will do no good in these situations because there is no internal blockage of the artery. The problem is the chemistry on the OUTSIDE of the artery.
Usually, people experiencing these episodes are prescribed nitrates (nitro glycerin tablets that go under the tonge for instance) to be taken at the onset of an attack. These nitrates are absorbed directly into the blood stream and relax ALL smooth muscle tissue including those in the heart muscle.
Sometimes calcium channel blockers are prescribed to regulate the contractility of heart muscle tissues as well.
Unfortunately, other than **************, there is no cure for this problem at this time.
Your doctors are not giving you the run around, they just aren't explaining themselves properly. Once they collect more information to determine that this is indeed what is happening, your father will be placed on a drug regimine that should improve his condition dramatically.
Let me know if there is anything else we can do for you.
Take care.....