Experience with Angina (Stable or Unstable)

[umsami]

If you or a family member has dealt with angina, can you share your experience/advice with me?  

 

*edited*

Edited June 2, 2016 by umsami

[brehon]

One of the main differences between "stable" and "unstable" angina is when/how it occurs: stable usually occurs during (strenuous) activity; unstable usually occurs while at rest. Angina is angina otherwise (for the most part). It's the heart's way of saying that one or more coronary arteries aren't getting enough oxygen. Multiple episodes of angina generally heralds an impending heart attack, especially with a family history of same.

 

Your friend may or may not be correct about what ultimately would happen if he were to go to an ER. There's no way to know unless he goes to an ER or sees a cardiologist. Heck, even a primary can run an ECG and then refer out. There are a number of people with on-going cardiac chest pain who have "clean caths" and will not have stents placed because there are no blockages. Most people, however, do end up having blockages and have one or more stents placed.

 

There is also a condition called low EF (or ejection fraction) that basically measures how much blood is pumped out of the left ventricle. (There's more to it than just that.) Unfortunately, sometimes people with very sick hearts and low EFs can't have stents placed and aren't candidates for bypass surgery.

 

Until and unless friend is willing to either go to an ER during one of these episodes or make an appointment with a cardiologist for a full cardiac work-up (labs, 12-lead ECG, echocardiogram, and stress test), there isn't much anyone can do except keep encouraging him. Aspirin is, of course, helpful during angina, but isn't a panacea.

Edited June 1, 2016 by brehon

[umsami]

Thanks Brehon.  *edited*

Edited June 2, 2016 by umsami

[brehon]

Oh, that's rough. There's nothing you can do for this person because they don't want to be helped...by anyone, it sounds like, not just you. Truly, jumping out of slow moving car to avoid going to an ER implies, to me at least, that he knows he has serious health issues and doesn't care enough about living to take care of them.

 

I'm very sorry.