thankyou for your reply. i get a tightness in my chest i also sweat alot. im on 75 mg of asprin also amlodine 5 mg a day. on saturday morning early hours i had severe pain in my heart ( it was like an electric shock ) i havent went to doctors as pain went after about a few seconds. this tightness in my chest is worse in the mornings. i have to walk about 250 yds to the loo ( as i live in a caravan) it does really worry me in case something really bad happens to me. i have an appointment at the hospital on the 1st of september then go for an angigram on the 23rd of september. what can i do to stop worrying its on my mind 24hours a day.
thankyou
derek
Hi,
The main goals of treatment in angina pectoris are relief of symptoms, slowing progression of the disease, and reduction of future events, especially heart attacks and of course death. An aspirin (75 mg to 100 mg) per day has been shown to be beneficial for all patients with stable angina that have no problems with its use. Beta blockers (eg. carvedilol, propranolol, atenolol etc. are some few examples) have a large body of evidence in morbidity and mortality benefits (fewer symptoms and disability and live longer) and short-acting nitroglycerin medications are used for symptomatic relief of angina. Isosorbide mononitrate and nicorandil are vasodilators commonly used in chronic stable angina. ACE inhibitors are also vasodilators with both symptomatic and prognostic benefit and lastly, statins are the most frequently used lipid/cholesterol modifiers which probably also stabilise existing atheromatous plaque.
Surprising perhaps is that exercise is also a very good long term treatment for angina (but only particular regimes - gentle and sustained exercise rather than dangerous intense short bursts),[2] probably working by complex mechanisms such improving blood pressure and promoting coronary artery collateralization (development of new collateral vessels).
Identifying and treating risk factors for further coronary heart disease is a priority in patients with angina. This means testing for elevated cholesterol and other fats in the blood, diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure), encouraging stopping smoking and weight optimisation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angina_pectoris
In your case, it will depend what is the nature of pain.
1. Do you have chest discomfort rather than actual pain, the discomfort is usually present as a pressure, heaviness, tightness, squeezing, burning, or choking sensation.
2. Do you have any radiation of pain? Typical locations for radiation of pain are arms (often inner left arm), shoulders, and neck into the jaw.
3. Does your pain get exacerbated by exertion/emotional stress? Angina is typically precipitated by exertion or emotional stress. It is exacerbated by having a full stomach and by cold temperatures.
4. Do you have any breathlessness, sweating or nausea? Pain may be accompanied by breathlessness, sweating and nausea in some cases. It usually lasts for about 1 to 5 minutes, and is relieved by rest or specific anti-angina medication. Chest pain lasting only a few seconds is normally not angina.
I’ll advise you to consult a physician and get an ECG done too along with other tests like
Stress ECG.
Please do keep me posted.
Kind Rgds.