My husband is 52 yo, has been getting crushing chest pains that feel like someone is sitting on his chest. It comes on usually in the mornings and if he's been exerting himself. By exertion I mean walking at his normal pace (he has to now walk very slowly and cannot walk much further than about 50 metres before he has to rest).
He's had tests that show he has NOT had a heart attack.
He's had blood tests that came back normal (no enzymes), a stress test but he was in too much pain to do the test for the 15 minutes they wanted. he completed about 7 minutes. They said the result showed no damage to his heart.
He's also had an ECG but that was normal as well.
At first they thought he had angina but now they say it isn't angina. They think it's arterial spasm but when I googled that it said it was angina. I'm really confused.
Anyone know what this is and if so what treatment he should have?
I am not sure! but I can pray for HIM!!
My mom just had something similar to this. It ended up the muscles and tendons around her ribs were inflamed. she always felt like she was having a heart attack even while sitting and watching TV.
He could also have really really bad acid reflux.
I'm surprised the Dr didn't schedule an upper GI to check out his esophagus.
Sometimes acid reflux can be confused with angina.
But if he cant walk very far and has to rest it sounds like his heart. Sorry……… wish I knew more.
Get them to check him for blocked arteries, neck , legs. has he had an anagram, dye injected trough heart arteries . I am suggesting this because I have suffered through this and it turned out to be all of the above. Lol It could also be panic attacks. the nest time this happens get a paper bag and get him to breath slowly in and out into it.(slows down heart rate) if all fails keep going to Doctors , see other until your problem is resolved. Wishing you luck
Has he had a cat scan?? That would show narrowing of the arteries. perhaps he has not had a heart attack, but it sounds like he may be pretty close. the tests you mention will only show positive if he has had some heart damage, but the pain and symptoms he is experiencing sure sounds like restriction of blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle.
Good luck. Please have him checked for this, he may need a bypass or at least some drugs that will help.
it would be angina there gets to be a build up of fluid around the heart causing the pressure in the chest and that is why no heart problems show =they say it's arterial spasm==ask them to give your Dad something to take away the pain
i had to use nitro spray
My husband was having the same kind of problems. he had all the tests that your husband had and they all came back no heart attack. he recently went to a different doctor for a physical and was told what he was having was stress heart attacks….they don't show up as an actual heart attack but every time he has one it does damage to his heart. I hope that this information helps you out.
It could be asthma and it could be managable. Asthma feels like someone sitting on your chest and feels more like a heart problem. Very disconcerting when you don't know it is.
Get him better rehydrated. you can drink plenty of water and still be under hydrated, especially if your on a low sodium/ no sodium/ no salt diet. Without salt your body can't retain water like it should. when your body dries out, so does the mucous in your lungs, Then it makes it difficult to breath. if a doctor diagnoses asthma, he'll probably prescribe inhalers, which in my opinion is turning a really temporary problem into a chronic condition that will absolutely wreck your life in the long run, not to mention the long term side effects of using steroids to open the passages of your lungs to fight difficulty breathing.
Hydrate properly, get your lungs clean (cough deeply to open the passages in your lung), and don't be afraid of exercise for better fitness(wich will also help). if it is asthma and you can't manage it, please seek professional help.
Hope it helps your husband feel normal and healthy again.
I had the same problem. I was convinced that I had angina. All the tests you mentioned were performed and the results were negative. Finally, my primary care physician gave me a prescription for Nitroglycerin to use when I had the pain. when I used it the pain went away sooner. this convinced him to send me to a cardiologist. On Oct. 2, 2006 the cardiologist had me do a stress test. That was inconclusive. So we set up a cardiocatherization for Oct. 4, 2006. when that was done they woke me up long enough to tell me I was going to have open heart surgery to put in 5 bypasses. On Oct. 8, 2006 I went home. I had just turned 47 yo in Sept. 2006. I'm doing much better at least as for as my heart, I have other problems that were found in the process.
I strongly suggest that your husband be very persistent, to the point of annoying the doctor if need be. Remember it is his health, not the doctors. perhaps a second opinion might help.
If you would like you may contact me directly at my email address
Hope this has helped.
Terry
PS: this is kind of important. I should have told you that I have also never had a heart attack and no damage has been done to my heart.
One other note: My doctors said that you have to have a 70% blockage or more before you feel angina.
How about lactose intolerance-does he drink milk or use milk in cereal or coffee in the morning/ Try lactaid and see.
If you are in India, talk to Dr.S.S.Shepal of Pune. His mobile number is: 09422301100. he is an ayurvedic doctor, done his MD in chikitsa and gives free consultation for heart patients.
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