24 yr old heart attack.... NO WAY

Nevermind. Please ignore this post. I failed to read previous post and
have lost all respect for most of the routine posters in this newsgroup.
This post will no longer be monitored and has been taken to other more
respectful newsgroups.

Sincerely,
Bryan

"Bryan Martin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

--The Questions:

Just how serious is this? -
Do I need to get my ducks in a row.

Do you get over a heart attack?-
Eventually does my life resume as normal. Again im 24yrs old. I play
softball on Sundays. I run, jump, play etc....

Is this something I will have to weigh before doing certain things?
Cant ride this roller coaster etc....

How common is this?
Am I alone? Doc says in his 22yrs he has only had six patients with
this and none out of his six have every had a second heart attack.

What causes spasms?
Is this caused by stress, over extending etc...

What do I tell everyone?
Is this a disorder, disease, condition. Because it was originally
diagnosed as a viral miacard thing-a-ma-bob everyone's first question is
have I gotten over the virus.

--The Story:

About two and a half weeks ago I began having chest pains which began as
though I had indigestion. What followed after a few minutes of what felt
like a very intense sharp pain from the center of my chest. After laying

on

Quoted message said:

the bathroom floor dripping with sweat the very intense moved to somewhat
intense so I proceeded to head to the er for help. Upon getting there I

was

Quoted message said:

seen by the "check out nurse" and immediately sent to the back and hooked,
poked, prodded etc....

A few minutes go by and I over hear the doctor talking about a 24 yr old
having a heart attack. At that time I was giving a nitrostat pill to

place

Quoted message said:

under my tongue and within a minute I felt good. They inform me then that
enzymes were found in my blood so once they felt like I was stable they

were

Quoted message said:

going to move me to a different hospital.

The following Monday started with a cath being performed which the doctor
said showed no signs of blockage or plaque. He did mention something

about

Quoted message said:

being weak but that's all I remember him saying about being abnormal. I

am

Quoted message said:

told at that point it may have been a viral miacard thing-a-ma-bob or

caused

Quoted message said:

by muscle spasms.

I am released from the hospital after 5 days and given the drugs listed
below. A week goes by with no problems then I began bleeding from my
rectum. This is red blood and will continue a steady drip as long as I

stay

Quoted message said:

on the toilet. After calling in I was told to stop taking the Plavix and
report to my md for a rectum exam. Not my idea of fun so I figure I have

to

Quoted message said:

see the cardiologist in 5 days for a follow up I will just hold off on the
Plavix until then with no rectum exam (no harm no foul right). After 2

days

Quoted message said:

I begin having the exact symptoms which accompanied the heart attack so
after it went from a discomfort to a pain feeling I took one of the
Nitrostats and the pain subsided right after. Thinking this may have been
brought on by not taking the Plavix I decide to go back to taking 1/2 of

the

Quoted message said:

pill per day. No more problems since.

After going to my follow-up with the cardiologist I was then told based on
the paragraph above this now looks as though I have had muscle spasms. He
prescribes Norvasc and says will stop the muscle spasms and sends me on my
way. Says he will see me in a couple of weeks when we will do a stress
test.

--The Drugs

Altace
Plavix
Nitrostat
Bayer
Niaspan
Norvasc

--About me

24yr White Male
6ft 190 lpbs.
somewhat active
no drinking, no drugs
smoked for about 8 years (1+ pk day)

Bryan Martin said:

--The Questions:

Just how serious is this? -

Serious

Quoted message said:

Do I need to get my ducks in a row.

Depends on your current heart function.

Quoted message said:

Do you get over a heart attack?-

Most people do.

Quoted message said:

Eventually does my life resume as normal. Again im 24yrs old. I play
softball on Sundays. I run, jump, play etc....

Should.

Quoted message said:

Is this something I will have to weigh before doing certain things?
Cant ride this roller coaster etc....

Depends on your heart function.

Quoted message said:

How common is this?

Rare in a 24 year old.

Quoted message said:

Am I alone?

No.

Quoted message said:

Doc says in his 22yrs he has only had six patients with
this and none out of his six have every had a second heart attack.

Ok.

Quoted message said:

What causes spasms?
Is this caused by stress, over extending etc...

It can be *triggered* by stress.

Quoted message said:

What do I tell everyone?
Is this a disorder, disease, condition. Because it was originally
diagnosed as a viral miacard thing-a-ma-bob everyone's first question is
have I gotten over the virus.

You have coronary disease.

Quoted message said:

--The Story:

About two and a half weeks ago I began having chest pains which began as
though I had indigestion. What followed after a few minutes of what felt
like a very intense sharp pain from the center of my chest. After laying on
the bathroom floor dripping with sweat the very intense moved to somewhat
intense so I proceeded to head to the er for help. Upon getting there I was
seen by the "check out nurse" and immediately sent to the back and hooked,
poked, prodded etc....

A few minutes go by and I over hear the doctor talking about a 24 yr old
having a heart attack. At that time I was giving a nitrostat pill to place
under my tongue and within a minute I felt good. They inform me then that
enzymes were found in my blood so once they felt like I was stable they were
going to move me to a different hospital.

The following Monday started with a cath being performed which the doctor
said showed no signs of blockage or plaque.

May have been a small plaque that ruptured.

Quoted message said:

He did mention something about
being weak but that's all I remember him saying about being abnormal. I am
told at that point it may have been a viral miacard thing-a-ma-bob or caused
by muscle spasms.

He probably meant coronary spasm rather than muscle spasm.

Quoted message said:

I am released from the hospital after 5 days and given the drugs listed
below. A week goes by with no problems then I began bleeding from my
rectum. This is red blood and will continue a steady drip as long as I stay
on the toilet. After calling in I was told to stop taking the Plavix and
report to my md for a rectum exam. Not my idea of fun so I figure I have to
see the cardiologist in 5 days for a follow up I will just hold off on the
Plavix until then with no rectum exam (no harm no foul right). After 2 days
I begin having the exact symptoms which accompanied the heart attack so
after it went from a discomfort to a pain feeling I took one of the
Nitrostats and the pain subsided right after. Thinking this may have been
brought on by not taking the Plavix I decide to go back to taking 1/2 of the
pill per day. No more problems since.

After going to my follow-up with the cardiologist I was then told based on
the paragraph above this now looks as though I have had muscle spasms.

Probably coronary spasm instead of muscle spasm.

Quoted message said:

He
prescribes Norvasc and says will stop the muscle spasms and sends me on my
way. Says he will see me in a couple of weeks when we will do a stress
test.

--The Drugs

Altace
Plavix
Nitrostat
Bayer
Niaspan
Norvasc

--About me

24yr White Male
6ft 190 lpbs.

Little heavy.

Quoted message said:

somewhat active
no drinking, no drugs
smoked for about 8 years (1+ pk day)

Hoped you've stopped smoking for good.

I would guess that the Niaspan is for low HDL (less than 35).

--
Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
Board-Certified Cardiologist
http://www.heartmdphd.com/

Bryan Martin said:

Nevermind. Please ignore this post. I failed to read previous post and
have lost all respect for most of the routine posters in this newsgroup.
This post will no longer be monitored and has been taken to other more
respectful newsgroups.

Sincerely,
Bryan

He's right, but he does not know that the
"intact male bovine excrement" being posted
here is a rather recent phenomenon.

The title is :sci.med.cardiology.
sciENCE:medICINE:cardiology. Personally, I do
not open messages which do not fit into that
general category. That includes diet
discussions. If you need to lose weight, go
to a diet group.

This Bryan Martin is on an interesting
track... that of cardiac vasospasm.
Discussion is lost due to the insincerity of
the posters who have invaded this newsgroup
in the last few months.

One more thing: people who post messages with
a moniker that cannot possibly be a real name
carry no weight. Others should refrain from
replying to them. Might reduce some of the
nonsense.

A.L.

You poor dear!

Do you need to get your ducks in a row? I wouldn't.

Spasms are serious but are easily controllable. They are also terrifying to
the patient. The norvasc will help the smooth artery relax. Both spasms
and traditional heart attacks cause blood to stop flowing down a coronary
artery depriving it of needed oxygen. With a spasm, the blood flow is
usually returned to normal before any damage is done. With a traditional
Myocardial Infarction, a clot occludes the artery and permanent damage is a
strong possibility. It doesn't sound you fall into the latter category.

Do everyone a favor and do not adjust your meds by yourself.

Can certain things precipitate spasms? Sure but they are not the same for
everyone. I would talk to your doc. He should have been more forthcoming.
For what it is worth, I would avoid certain meds like over the counter
decongestants which cause vasoconstriction but your doc might not think it
is a problem for you. Please ask. Anxiety is often a factor as is stress.

Also, all these questions you posed on the newsgroup should be posed to him
or her. Typically what happens is that a patient so scared they are gonna
die or so relieved to find out that they aren't going to die that they
forget to ask the questions. A good doc will typically anticipate some of
them but you never know if he had an emergency cath awaiting him in the cath
lab or if his wife was crabby in the morning or whatever. Still, you or
your insurance paid dearly for sound medical care and teaching patients is a
very large part of it.

Be careful with the Nitro. It doesn't like heat or light. Do not keep it
in your pants pocked. If it doesn't tingle, it is dead. Buy new stuff
frequently and keep it with you. It will relieve spasms. Also, sit down
while you take it if possible because it can cause your blood pressure to
drop and make you fall. It isn't serious until you break something on the
concrete or split your lip. Very messy.

I seriously doubt that you would have been dismissed as quickly as you were
if you had active viral myocarditis. However, I am hardly in a position to
know. Ask the doc.

j

"Bryan Martin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

--The Questions:

Just how serious is this? -
Do I need to get my ducks in a row.

Do you get over a heart attack?-
Eventually does my life resume as normal. Again im 24yrs old. I play
softball on Sundays. I run, jump, play etc....

Is this something I will have to weigh before doing certain things?
Cant ride this roller coaster etc....

How common is this?
Am I alone? Doc says in his 22yrs he has only had six patients with
this and none out of his six have every had a second heart attack.

What causes spasms?
Is this caused by stress, over extending etc...

What do I tell everyone?
Is this a disorder, disease, condition. Because it was originally
diagnosed as a viral miacard thing-a-ma-bob everyone's first question is
have I gotten over the virus.

--The Story:

About two and a half weeks ago I began having chest pains which began as
though I had indigestion. What followed after a few minutes of what felt
like a very intense sharp pain from the center of my chest. After laying

on

Quoted message said:

the bathroom floor dripping with sweat the very intense moved to somewhat
intense so I proceeded to head to the er for help. Upon getting there I

was

Quoted message said:

seen by the "check out nurse" and immediately sent to the back and hooked,
poked, prodded etc....

A few minutes go by and I over hear the doctor talking about a 24 yr old
having a heart attack. At that time I was giving a nitrostat pill to

place

Quoted message said:

under my tongue and within a minute I felt good. They inform me then that
enzymes were found in my blood so once they felt like I was stable they

were

Quoted message said:

going to move me to a different hospital.

The following Monday started with a cath being performed which the doctor
said showed no signs of blockage or plaque. He did mention something

about

Quoted message said:

being weak but that's all I remember him saying about being abnormal. I

am

Quoted message said:

told at that point it may have been a viral miacard thing-a-ma-bob or

caused

Quoted message said:

by muscle spasms.

I am released from the hospital after 5 days and given the drugs listed
below. A week goes by with no problems then I began bleeding from my
rectum. This is red blood and will continue a steady drip as long as I

stay

Quoted message said:

on the toilet. After calling in I was told to stop taking the Plavix and
report to my md for a rectum exam. Not my idea of fun so I figure I have

to

Quoted message said:

see the cardiologist in 5 days for a follow up I will just hold off on the
Plavix until then with no rectum exam (no harm no foul right). After 2

days

Quoted message said:

I begin having the exact symptoms which accompanied the heart attack so
after it went from a discomfort to a pain feeling I took one of the
Nitrostats and the pain subsided right after. Thinking this may have been
brought on by not taking the Plavix I decide to go back to taking 1/2 of

the

Quoted message said:

pill per day. No more problems since.

After going to my follow-up with the cardiologist I was then told based on
the paragraph above this now looks as though I have had muscle spasms. He
prescribes Norvasc and says will stop the muscle spasms and sends me on my
way. Says he will see me in a couple of weeks when we will do a stress
test.

--The Drugs

Altace
Plavix
Nitrostat
Bayer
Niaspan
Norvasc

--About me

24yr White Male
6ft 190 lpbs.
somewhat active
no drinking, no drugs
smoked for about 8 years (1+ pk day)

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Julianne said:

Do everyone a favor and do not adjust your meds by yourself.

FWIW, I don't understand the bleeding part. What is Plavix, and why
would Plavix cause bleeding from the rectum? Sounds like quite a
serious side effect!

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=zILc
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--
Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.

Julianne said:

You poor dear!

Do you need to get your ducks in a row? I wouldn't.

Spasms are serious but are easily controllable. They are also terrifying to
the patient. The norvasc will help the smooth artery relax. Both spasms
and traditional heart attacks cause blood to stop flowing down a coronary
artery depriving it of needed oxygen. With a spasm, the blood flow is
usually returned to normal before any damage is done.

He did mention the detection of the enzymes
in the blood. My understanding is, there are
heart muscle specific enzymes detected in the
blood when heart muscle cells die. Then, some
enzymes, some permanent damage.

It seems to me that tracking enzyme
concentrations in time might be a good way to
get a measure of the amount of cardiac muscle
damage.

Quoted message said:

With a traditional
Myocardial Infarction, a clot occludes the artery and permanent damage is a
strong possibility. It doesn't sound you fall into the latter category.

Do everyone a favor and do not adjust your meds by yourself.

Can certain things precipitate spasms? Sure but they are not the same for
everyone. I would talk to your doc. He should have been more forthcoming.
For what it is worth, I would avoid certain meds like over the counter
decongestants which cause vasoconstriction but your doc might not think it
is a problem for you. Please ask. Anxiety is often a factor as is stress.

Are there any other drugs which cause spasm?
You seem to be so knowledgeable.

Quoted message said:

Also, all these questions you posed on the newsgroup should be posed to him
or her. Typically what happens is that a patient so scared they are gonna
die or so relieved to find out that they aren't going to die that they
forget to ask the questions. A good doc will typically anticipate some of
them but you never know if he had an emergency cath awaiting him in the cath
lab or if his wife was crabby in the morning or whatever. Still, you or
your insurance paid dearly for sound medical care and teaching patients is a
very large part of it.

Be careful with the Nitro. It doesn't like heat or light. Do not keep it
in your pants pocked. If it doesn't tingle, it is dead. Buy new stuff
frequently and keep it with you. It will relieve spasms. Also, sit down
while you take it if possible because it can cause your blood pressure to
drop and make you fall. It isn't serious until you break something on the
concrete or split your lip. Very messy.

I seriously doubt that you would have been dismissed as quickly as you were
if you had active viral myocarditis. However, I am hardly in a position to
know. Ask the doc.

j

I recently read a book written about 1950. In
it, the man has a heart attack and his wife
is informed that the hospital will perform a
"cardiograph" and that it will determine
whether it was a thrombus caused attack, or
the less dangerous spasm caused attack. I
have the exact quote written down, but not
here. So, my question is, "Can an
electrocardiogram distinguish, with accuracy,
the difference in the two conditions?"

I would tell Bryan, who is no longer
monitoring this group, that my MI, with odd
symptoms and clear coronary arteries which
occurred at age 52, 40 months ago has
produced no measurable disabilities to me.
Mine was probably due to spasm.

A.L.

Plavix is an anticoagulant. I believe it makes the platelets slippery so
that they might slide all over each other and not form untoward blood clots
in areas of arterial walls that are damaged and tend to collect platelets
and form clots.

Whenever anyone is given an anticoagulant (even aspirin) bleeding may occur
anywhere there is a problem which might lead to bleeding. In the OP's case,
the doc was probably suspicious of hemorrhoids that would maintain on their
own but with the addition of Plavix, they sort of bled out of control. You
also see patients with ulcers start to bleed or other areas where vascular
tissue is compromised.

j
"Mxsmanic" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Julianne said:

Do everyone a favor and do not adjust your meds by yourself.

FWIW, I don't understand the bleeding part. What is Plavix, and why
would Plavix cause bleeding from the rectum? Sounds like quite a
serious side effect!

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: PGP 8.0.2

iQA/AwUBP3ID+Rv8knkS0DI6EQLwpwCeNaggEcBXwfgPsSQqjKejxwOlfNsAn0n6
NW/BBsR15XLbPJbGvVcOdL0x
=zILc
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

--
Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.

"Al. Lohse" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Julianne said:

You poor dear!

Do you need to get your ducks in a row? I wouldn't.

Spasms are serious but are easily controllable. They are also

terrifying to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the patient. The norvasc will help the smooth artery relax. Both

spasms

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and traditional heart attacks cause blood to stop flowing down a

coronary

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

artery depriving it of needed oxygen. With a spasm, the blood flow is
usually returned to normal before any damage is done.

He did mention the detection of the enzymes
in the blood. My understanding is, there are
heart muscle specific enzymes detected in the
blood when heart muscle cells die. Then, some
enzymes, some permanent damage.

It seems to me that tracking enzyme
concentrations in time might be a good way to
get a measure of the amount of cardiac muscle
damage.

You are exactly right but I am not sure about the severity of permanent
damage when the blood flow is immediately restored. This is the rationale
of either giving thrombolytics (clot busters) or rushing MI patients to the
heart lab so that blood flow can be restored before actual tissue death
occurs. The enzymes referred to are probably CPK. A very small percentage
of that directly reflects heart muscle and is referred to as the MB band.
In the old days, (and to a degree even now), heart patients were not given
injections into their muscles because any damage to muscle cells will cause
the total CK to rise. However, most people heal nicely after receiving an
injection unless I am really, really mad at them. I have also had rare
patients with a disease called rhabdomylosis which is a very bad muscle
wasting disease sent to the heart unit because their CK was so very high.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

With a traditional
Myocardial Infarction, a clot occludes the artery and permanent damage

is a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

strong possibility. It doesn't sound you fall into the latter category.

Do everyone a favor and do not adjust your meds by yourself.

Can certain things precipitate spasms? Sure but they are not the same

for

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

everyone. I would talk to your doc. He should have been more

forthcoming.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

For what it is worth, I would avoid certain meds like over the counter
decongestants which cause vasoconstriction but your doc might not think

it

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is a problem for you. Please ask. Anxiety is often a factor as is

stress.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Are there any other drugs which cause spasm?
You seem to be so knowledgeable.

There are certainly others. The thing is that people respond differently
to medications and other substances. 'All Natural' diet pills available at
every gas station and drug store come to mind immediately. Very sensitive
people might also respond the same way to caffiene. Alcohol normally
relaxes the arteries but it is conceivable that an artery might spasm in
response to the sudden relaxation as a counter measure. As long as the
spasms are well controlled with medications, it is mostly a matter of
avoiding obvious dangers (like gas station weight loss meds) and doing every
thing else in moderation until one's personal response is known. Some
asthma medications and inhalers also have these effects.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Also, all these questions you posed on the newsgroup should be posed to

him

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

or her. Typically what happens is that a patient so scared they are

gonna

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

die or so relieved to find out that they aren't going to die that they
forget to ask the questions. A good doc will typically anticipate some

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

them but you never know if he had an emergency cath awaiting him in the

cath

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

lab or if his wife was crabby in the morning or whatever. Still, you or
your insurance paid dearly for sound medical care and teaching patients

is a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

very large part of it.

Be careful with the Nitro. It doesn't like heat or light. Do not keep

it

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in your pants pocked. If it doesn't tingle, it is dead. Buy new stuff
frequently and keep it with you. It will relieve spasms. Also, sit

down

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

while you take it if possible because it can cause your blood pressure

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

drop and make you fall. It isn't serious until you break something on

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

concrete or split your lip. Very messy.

I seriously doubt that you would have been dismissed as quickly as you

were

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

if you had active viral myocarditis. However, I am hardly in a position

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

know. Ask the doc.

j

I recently read a book written about 1950. In
it, the man has a heart attack and his wife
is informed that the hospital will perform a
"cardiograph" and that it will determine
whether it was a thrombus caused attack, or
the less dangerous spasm caused attack. I
have the exact quote written down, but not
here. So, my question is, "Can an
electrocardiogram distinguish, with accuracy,
the difference in the two conditions?"

I have never had the burden of caring for patients without access to
immediate cath films! However, I imagine it would be possible to infer that
a cardiac problem is related to spasm to some degree by taking serial EKG's
or leaving them on a continuous monitor. When an artery is completely
occluded, there is a characteristic elevation of one part of the rhythm
strip. If you know what you are looking at, you can diagnose an MI from
across the room with one eye closed. As the heart attack resolves, the
rhythm follows a predictable pattern.

However, if you see a completely occluded artery on an EKG alternated with a
normal strip it would be reasonable to assume that spasms are involved. The
question would be was the spasm severe enough to cut off circulation or was
it a minor spasm and the artery was occluded because of a near total
blockage? Anyone have the answer to that?

j

Quoted message said:

I would tell Bryan, who is no longer
monitoring this group, that my MI, with odd
symptoms and clear coronary arteries which
occurred at age 52, 40 months ago has
produced no measurable disabilities to me.
Mine was probably due to spasm.

A.L.

Julianne said:

<<<<<<<<<<<<<< snip >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I have also had rare
patients with a disease called rhabdomylosis which is a very bad muscle
wasting disease sent to the heart unit because their CK was so very high.

Can one get rhabdomylosis without statin drug
ingestion?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<<<<<<<<<<<<<< snip >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A.L. wrote
Are there any other drugs which cause spasm?
You seem to be so knowledgeable.

There are certainly others. The thing is that people respond differently
to medications and other substances. 'All Natural' diet pills available at
every gas station and drug store come to mind immediately. Very sensitive
people might also respond the same way to caffiene. Alcohol normally
relaxes the arteries but it is conceivable that an artery might spasm in
response to the sudden relaxation as a counter measure. As long as the
spasms are well controlled with medications, it is mostly a matter of
avoiding obvious dangers (like gas station weight loss meds) and doing every
thing else in moderation until one's personal response is known. Some
asthma medications and inhalers also have these effects.

We don't have "gas station weight loss meds"
in the Great White North!

Was hoping you could forward information on
the blood pressure drugs. If an ACE inhibitor
or a beta blocker were to cause a heart
attack (As their package inserts say they
might.), would it not be more likely to be
via spasm than thrombosis?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<<<<<<<<<<<<<< snip >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >
A.L. wrote:
I recently read a book written about 1950. In
it, the man has a heart attack and his wife
is informed that the hospital will perform a
"cardiograph" and that it will determine
whether it was a thrombus caused attack, or
the less dangerous spasm caused attack. I
have the exact quote written down, but not
here. So, my question is, "Can an
electrocardiogram distinguish, with accuracy,
the difference in the two conditions?"

I have never had the burden of caring for patients without access to
immediate cath films! However, I imagine it would be possible to infer that
a cardiac problem is related to spasm to some degree by taking serial EKG's
or leaving them on a continuous monitor. When an artery is completely
occluded, there is a characteristic elevation of one part of the rhythm
strip. If you know what you are looking at, you can diagnose an MI from
across the room with one eye closed. As the heart attack resolves, the
rhythm follows a predictable pattern.

However, if you see a completely occluded artery on an EKG alternated with a
normal strip it would be reasonable to assume that spasms are involved. The
question would be was the spasm severe enough to cut off circulation or was
it a minor spasm and the artery was occluded because of a near total
blockage? Anyone have the answer to that?

j

Quoted message said:

<<<<<<<<<<<<<< snip >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The direct quote is:

"The cardiograph would reveal whether or no
the attack was a simple muscular spasm, which
would not be so serious, or a coronary
thrombosis, which would be very serious
indeed."

In the late 40's a "cardiograph" was a much
more complicated procedure mainly because
electronic amplifiers were no where near as
effective as they are today. The
"cardiograph" in the book was to be carried
out the following day, and, probably only one
time.

Perhaps you can ask one of your older
colleagues whether or not "cardiographs,"
back then, were effective in distinguishing
between spasm and thrombosis type heart
attacks. I think it is important for the
patient to know because, certainly, different
therapies would apply.

Thanks, A.L.

P.S. In my own case, a young Med Student was
first to offer the results of my angiogram.
She did so in the presence of my wife. She
said, "The angiogram showed blockages of 25
to 35%. This would not be unexpected in a
person of my age [~25YO]. So, you have likely
had a coronary artery spasm." (Approximate
quote.) If there is a possibility that the
EKG (ECG) taken at the time contains that
information, I would certainly pursue that
route.

(I was also immediately thrown out the the
cushy CCU into the general hospital
population.)

Also, my symptoms were unusual... no one
"sitting on my chest" no pain radiating. I
had a sharp, localized annoying pain just
behind the lower portion of the breast bone
with both biceps feeling like they had been
worked to exhaustion. When I explained this
sharp pain symptom to another doctor about 6
months ago, she said, "Pains we tell you to
ignore." I replied, I did ignore it the first
time, but since it awakened me the second
time, I had to get it checked out.