Log in
AF Association
16,799 members19,925 posts

Hi, am to use a loop monitor soon. Any advice please?

Recent PAF episode with left upper chest pain led to an angiogram which thankfully showed no coronary artery problems. Why would angina spray given by ambulance men take away the pain each time, but now told I don't have angina. Arrhythmia was decided to be the cause of the pain, but why would that be? Hope someone knows, thanks!

2 Replies

Hi Penny

I am not a medical man, but as I understand it the spray is glyceryl trinitrate, my GP prescribed for me early on before I had the AF diagnosis

Angina is caused by a lack of oxygen being pumped around the body and glyceryl trinitrate works by opening up the veins and arteries very fast, making them relax and therefore pump more blood, and hopefully easing the angina

A Fib is a heart beat problem, the atria are out of synch and typically during an attack your heart will race very fast as it tries to go back into NSR, the glyceryl trinitrate does that same as it does for angina, it opens the arteries, and therefore any "angina type" from the lack of oxygen in the body (typcially when you heart is beating that fast it also beats shallower) then the spray will temporarily relieve the pain. But it's generally short lasting as I understand and a bit of a "shock to the system"

Now why they don't seem to prescribe for use during an AF attack, I am not sure, and perhaps someone with more knowledge than me can reply.


Many thanks, Beancounter. My heart had been racing for over seven hours before the pain started, so am sure you are correct about the lack of oxygen. Am to be fitted with a loop monitor in October - have you or any other members any advice, comments etc about these? Regards to all.


You may also like...