What triggers coronary spasm?

Coronary artery spasm occurs most commonly in people who smoke or who have high cholesterol or high blood pressure. It may occur without cause, or it may be triggered by: Alcohol withdrawal. Emotional stress.

Can anxiety cause coronary artery spasm?

Cardiac Mechanisms Both autonomic activation and hyperventilation (via alkalosis) during panic attacks can lead to coronary artery spasm. This coronary spasm can then lead to myocardial ischemia and cardiac chest pain.

Why does coronary artery spasm happen at night?

What causes coronary artery spasm? There are chemicals in the body that cause the blood vessels to tighten and other chemicals that cause the blood vessels to relax. Stress can cause constriction of the coronary arteries if there is too much of the tightening chemicals and not enough relaxing chemicals.

What drugs cause coronary artery spasm?

Coronary spasm is also associated with smoking, cocaine, amphetamine, marijuana and alcohol consumption, which can often explain myocardial infarction in young patients with few traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

Can coronary artery spasms go away?

Coronary artery spasms are usually considered chronic, or long-term, conditions. This means that the condition will continue to occur and won’t go away on its own. However, the outlook is generally good if you follow your treatment plan and avoid triggers.

How do you treat coronary artery spasm?

Treatment of coronary artery spasms may include medications such as:

Nitrates, which are used to prevent spasms and quickly relieve chest pain as it occurs.
Calcium channel blockers, which relax the arteries and decrease the spasm.
Statin medications, which not only lower cholesterol but also may prevent spasms.

Is coronary artery spasm serious?

Coronary artery spasms happen when the walls of blood vessels squeeze together. This causes part of the blood vessel to narrow. These spasms are not always severe or even painful. Sometimes, however, they can lead to serious problems, including chest pain, heart attack, or even death.

How do you stop coronary artery spasms?

Can you feel a coronary artery spasm?

Usually, if you feel chest pain from a coronary artery spasm, you will feel it under the sternum (breast bone), on the left. This pain is very intense, and it can feel like your chest is being squeezed. Occasionally, these sensations can spread to other parts of the body like the neck, arm, shoulder, or jaw.

Does coronary artery spasm show on ECG?

Coronary spasm occurs most often from midnight to early morning and is usually not induced by exercise in the daytime. The attacks of coronary spasm are associated with either ST segment elevation or depression, or negative U wave on ECG.

What triggers coronary spasm? Coronary artery spasm occurs most commonly in people who smoke or who have high cholesterol or high blood pressure. It may occur without cause, or it may be triggered by: Alcohol withdrawal. Emotional stress. Can anxiety cause coronary artery spasm? Cardiac Mechanisms Both autonomic activation and hyperventilation (via alkalosis) during panic…