question re: cardiac stent

Having gone through many angiograms, angioplasties, quad bypass surgery (age 47 btw), and two stents, yes it can happen. Symptoms may point to a blockage, ekg's may indicate an issue, but it's not until they actually take a look that they can see IF there is a blockage, and where it is.

Unfortunately, some of the same symptoms can occur with eating an extra hot plate of Buffalo Wings.

Hope he is alright and yes he needs to quit.

Must quit smoking using any means necessary!

Could have been a spasm(sp). That happens too.

wildtoad wrote:

Unfortunately, some of the same symptoms can occur with eating an extra hot plate of Buffalo Wings.

x2
... and it scares the H E double hockey sticks out of you every time..!!

CT scans, stress tests, EKG's, X-rays and Blood tests are all great diagnostic tools but when it comes to actual artery blockages, the heart cath is the definitive word... and it sure beats the heck out of cracking the chest for a look-see.

Good luck to him.

Sounds as if he had a 'cardiac spasm'. He's lucky and if he was smart, he would follow-up with a cardiologist. Absolutely stop using nicotine. Get cholesterol under control.
Nicotine is a cardiac constrictor. It makes the vessels squeeze tight. If there are cholesterol plaques inside the vessels, it all gets squished together, and blood flow is slowed/stopped. Nephew was lucky and the vessels opened up, before he had real trouble.
He should take it as a serious wake-up call.

Very interesting! Thanks, all! I never heard of such a thing. It's going to be hard for him to quit smoking, unless his wife does the same, but it's now or never. Thanks for the info, it's amazing what we can learn here.

Have a heart attack...you'd be surprised how quickly you can stop smoking cold turkey. Completely killed my cravings for a cigarette and I had smoked for over 30 years and was up to 4 packs. Yeah, I was a real dummy. Could probably have bought a really nice coach with what I spent over the years. Live and learn...die and forget it all, lol.

liveneasy wrote:

wildtoad wrote:

Unfortunately, some of the same symptoms can occur with eating an extra hot plate of Buffalo Wings.

x2
... and it scares the H E double hockey sticks out of you every time..!!

CT scans, stress tests, EKG's, X-rays and Blood tests are all great diagnostic tools but when it comes to actual artery blockages, the heart cath is the definitive word... and it sure beats the heck out of cracking the chest for a look-see.

Good luck to him.

The last part of Feb. I checked into the ER with chest pains. They kept me for three days and did every test except the heart cath and said I had no heart problems and that my pain was most likely the result of a muscle spasm.

I checked with another cardio Doc and he did a heart cath and found 95% blockage on the right side. Put a stent in.

So, the only way to tell if there is blockage is to do the heart cath.

I sure hope this has given him the will to stop smoking. Glad he is ok.

You people have made a Public Service Announcement today, Thank you! I've never heard this precise explanation in one of those little medical bits they put on the NEWS. Thank you for the vivid mental pictures. They may just save someone.

I've had nine heart procedures over the years, including stents. However, one time, I experienced the symptoms of a heart attack, but when they did the angiogram, the blockage went away. I was diagnosed with a "coronary artery spasm". Do a google search on it, and you'll find out how serious they can be, even fatal if not taken care of. Mine was caused by an electrolyte imbalance, but smoking can also cause them. I'm not a doctor, and in no way can you be certain it was a coronary artery spasm, but if it was, it's serious and he needs to take control of his health.