Only people with Prinzmetal angina, knows how unpleasant and uncomfortable is chest pain caused by spasms. The worst thing about this disease is that the pain, or spasm, occurs in a totally unexpected situation, such is when we are at rest and relaxed. The cause of pain is a narrowing or spasms of blood vessels, particularly the coronary arteries, and their inability to provide the heart with oxygen-rich blood. When you have the first attack, you will feel as if you survive a heart attack, but fortunately this is not it.
In this case, the most important thing is to immediately contact your doctor, try to remember the symptoms that you had before the attack, as well as to better describe how the attack looked like! This is very important for the reason that the detection and diagnosis of Prinzmetal angina is very difficult!
Prinzmetal angina treatment is based on the use of medications that directly affect the spasm and reduce it. In people who have coronary artery disease, Prinzmetal angina treatment may include coronary artery bypass surgery or angioplasty.
After the episode of the attack, the first thing you need to do is to contact an emergency department. The basic treatment, which you can expect to receive uponthe receipt in an ambulance looks like this:
- Electrocardiography - continuous monitoring of the heart activity
- Oxygen therapy
- Intravenous therapy - infusion of liquid substances directly into a vein
- Monitoring of blood pressure
- Medications for the Prinzmetal angina treatment
Medications for the Prinzmetal angina treatment:
- Aspirin
Aspirin is very effective as the key step in the early treatment of Prinzmetal angina! Aspirin functions as being a blood slimmer. It enables blood to circulate less difficult throughout coronary arteries and by that to reduce the pain in the chest. Aspirin is very good in treating any kind of pain since it is pain killer medication.
- Beta Blockers
The main task of beta blockers is to refrain the heart from excitement and expand blood vessels, helping the blood flow through the arteries. They prevent the heart to increase number of beats. Beta blockers are a big group of medications, which are commonly used for the treatment of chest pain and cardiac disorders in general. Some research suggests that beta blockers tend to increase the frequency and duration of attacks, and therefore are not recommended! Consult with your doctor about this if he prescribes you beta blockers.
- Calcium Channel Blockers
Prinzmetal angina treatment with Calcium Channel Blockers (CCB) is good because they are very effective in preventing attacks. CCB have a role in preventing the deposition of calcium in the coronary arteries and the heart. They allow easier flow of blood through the blood vessels to the heart and thus reduce pain in the chest, and furthermore reduce the appearance of attacks! Statistics shows that over fifty percent of patients treated by using the CCB became completely free of symptoms. There are several calcium channel blockers available and all are very effective with preventing the attacks: amlodipine, diltiazem, nifedipine and verapamil. The main difference between them is how much they influence on the contraction of the heart and heart pulse. If a patient has slow heart rate (bradycardia) they should not be used in prinzmetal angina treatment.
- Nitroglycerin
Nitroglycerin should be used as the first treatment of Prinzmetal angina, because it reduces signs and symptoms very quickly. Its purpose is to allow blood vessels and arteries to open and by that epzpedite the blood flow. Nitroglycerin may be found in tablets, pills, patches, sprays. They are very effective in preventing attacks, however, in the long term they can be ineffective due to the development of tolerance.
After the diagnosis, depending on the individual state of your disease, and some other factors, your doctor will opt for one of the following options for treatment:
- Treatment with aspirin
- Treatment with beta-blocker medication
- Treatment with nitroglycerin
- Treatment with calcium channel blockers
- Cardiac rehabilitation program
- Smoking cessation counseling
- Bypass surgery for coronary artery
Smoking Cessation
Smoking is harmful for many reasons! Among the patients with Prinzmetal angina was noted rapid improvement of health condition, the disappearance of symptoms and attacks, after a very short preiod after smoking cessation. One of the reasons for getting Prinzmetal angina is exactly the smoking. This is why it is very important to stop smoking as soon as possible. Smoking cessation will decrease blood pressure, lower heart rate and allow heart to work easier generally!