Some coronary conditions not the norm

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Here’s the scenario — frequent, sharp chest pain. Usually during or after exercise. And all tests, including an angiogram show no signs of heart trouble. It’s a reality for hundreds of thousands of people around the globe. And there are no resources to help them make sense of this condition — until now.

Startling symptoms for Liz Woodburn who spent 15-years doing high intensity martial arts training. but even more startling, after ruling out a number of possibilities a cardiologist said he couldn’t help her.  “I had pain in the centre of my chest and it radiated down my arm and I thought oh my goodness that’s what people say when they’re going to have a heart attack.  When you go to the people you think will have all the answers and they can’t help you it’s really scary.”

Liz is among the 30% of angiogram patients who don’t fit the mold. “I’m one of those people who’s had an angiogram in association with chest pain and I don’t have blocked arteries.”

Michael McGillion is a cardiovascular researcher at McMaster University. He says there are a number of coronary conditions that don’t model the norm but need attention. “When we rule out conditions that might mimic chest pain, those who live with this ongoing chest pain, it’s a very difficult scenario for them to live with. It’s about rais

When you go to the people you think will have all the answers and they can’t help you it’s really scary.”

Liz is among the 30% of angiogram patients who don’t fit the mold. “I’m one of those people who’s had an angiogram in association with chest pain and I don’t have blocked arteries.”

Michael McGillion is a cardiovascular researcher at McMaster University. He says there are a number of coronary conditions that don’t model the norm but need attention. “When we rule out conditions that might mimic chest pain, those who live with this ongoing chest pain, it’s a very difficult scenario for them to live with. It’s about raising awareness of these conditions requiring a multi-professional approach really to complex problems that may not necessarily fit the traditional mold of conventional treatments for heart disease.”

With the help of patients like Liz — and professionals from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and the Canadian Pain Coalition McGillion established an online resource to benefit patients as well as health care providers. “We have narrated voice overs talking about the possible disease mechanisms behind these conditions and how to treat them. We offer clinical practice guidelines. We offer different approaches to treating for example cardiac syndrome x.”

Liz has learned to live with her condition. But she’s optimistic through the online resource, more research will be funded to improve diagnostic assessment as well as treatment options.

ing awareness of these conditions requiring a multi-professional approach really to complex problems that may not necessarily fit the traditional mold of conventional treatments for heart disease.”

With the help of patients like Liz — and professionals from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and the Canadian Pain Coalition McGillion established an online resource to benefit patients as well as health care providers. “We have narrated voice overs talking about the possible disease mechanisms behind these conditions and how to treat them. We offer clinical practice guidelines. We offer different approaches to treating for example cardiac syndrome x.”

Liz has learned to live with her condition. But she’s optimistic through the online resource, more research will be funded to improve diagnostic assessment as well as treatment options.