Do your blood vessels suddenly constrict? This is called (Vasospasm)!

Have you ever felt a sudden, tight, or painful sensation in one part of your body? It could be because one of your blood vessels suddenly constricts. In medical terms, this is called vasospasm , or constriction of blood vessels . Simply put, it's like a water pipe suddenly becoming blocked, cutting off the flow of water. It's important to understand this because it can affect many different parts of your body.

What exactly is this (Vasospasm)?

Simply put, vasospasm is a sudden and prolonged constriction and narrowing of the arteries, or blood vessels, in your body. Imagine what happens if you clench your fists and unclench your fingers for a while? It starts to hurt after a while, doesn't it? That's what happens if your arteries are constantly constricted.

Our artery walls are made of muscle . These muscles constantly contract and relax to control blood pressure. This is normal. However, in a vasospasm, these muscles contract abnormally and for too long . This reduces the amount of blood flowing through that artery. This reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches the surrounding tissues. If this continues, the artery walls can become damaged.

In particular, where there are abnormalities in the blood vessels, we call them (endothelial dysfunction) , there is a greater chance of (vasospasm) occurring.

What happens when a vasospasm occurs?

When a vasospasm occurs, the smooth muscles in the walls of the arteries overreact to signals to contract. Normally, these muscles contract temporarily. But in a vasospasm, they contract for a longer period of time than necessary.

How does (Vasospasm) affect my body?

Vasospasm can occur in many different arteries in our body, but it is more common in certain areas. For example:

• Coronary Arteries: When vasospasm occurs in the arteries that supply blood to the heart, it is called Prinzmetal angina . This can restrict blood flow to the heart and cause a heart attack. Imagine, suddenly, a sharp pain in the chest area, sometimes making it difficult to breathe.
• Cerebral Arteries: If the arteries that supply blood to the brain (vasospasm) occur, blood flow to the brain can be reduced, causing brain tissue damage (cerebral infarct) , a condition similar to a ``heart attack'' to the brain. This can cause speech difficulties and loss of limb function.
• Arteries in the fingers and toes: If vasospasm occurs in the fingers, the fingers may become cold, numb, and discolored. This is a very uncomfortable condition.
• Nipple Vasospasm: If this condition occurs in breastfeeding mothers, breastfeeding can be very painful.

How common is vasospasm?

According to some studies, up to 20% of breastfeeding mothers may experience vasospasm in their milk ducts. Also, between 50% and 90% of those who experience a condition such as a ruptured blood vessel in the brain (aneurysm) are at risk of developing vasospasm.

What are the symptoms of vasospasm?

Symptoms vary depending on where the vasospasm occurs. Let's see how it works.

Symptoms of Coronary Vasospasms

These often occur at rest, at night, in the early morning, and after exposure to extreme cold . Some research has shown that they are also associated with mental conditions such as anxiety and depression .

The main symptoms are:

• Cardiac arrest or aborted sudden cardiac death.
• Fainting.
• Stable angina: This means chest pain, especially with exertion.
• Acute coronary syndrome: This can be a heart attack or unstable angina.

Symptoms of Cerebral Vasospasms

Vasospasm in the brain may cause symptoms such as:

• A sudden, severe headache that worsens within seconds.
• Excessive sleepiness.
• Loss of feeling or inability to move an arm, leg, or one side of the body.

Symptoms of Vasospasms in the Hands or Feet

If you have a vasospasm in your arm, leg, or finger, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Cold or numb fingers.
• Skin color changes (turning white, blue, red).
• Throbbing or tingling sensation in the fingers.

Symptoms of Nipple Vasospasms in Breastfeeding Mothers

If a breastfeeding mother experiences this condition, she may experience symptoms such as:

• Severe pain in the breast .
• Changes in the color of the breast milk duct (may turn white, then red, blue, or purple).

What are the causes of vasospasm?

There are various causes of vasospasm in different parts of the body.

Causes of Vasospasm in the Heart

Although the exact causes of this are not known, there are some things that are associated with this condition:

• The chemical called Serotonin .
• Anti-cancer treatment (Chemotherapy).
• Use of drugs such as cocaine, amphetamines, or cannabis .
• Genetic mutations.
• Inflammation.
• Migraines.

Causes of Vasospasm in the Brain

Vasospasm in the brain can be caused by:

• A ruptured brain aneurysm.
• Other causes of bleeding around the brain.
• Exposure to vasoactive substances or medications.
• A blood clot around the brain (Subarachnoid blood clot).

Causes of Vasospasm in the Hands or Feet

The main reasons for this are:

• Raynaud's phenomenon: In this, blood flow to the fingers is impaired when exposed to cold or stress.
• Scleroderma: This is a disease that causes the skin to thicken and harden.
• Atherosclerosis: Narrowing of the arteries due to fatty deposits in the artery walls.
• Blood clots.

Causes of vasospasm in breast milk ducts in nursing mothers

There are several reasons that could affect this:

• Raynaud's phenomenon.
• Some medications.
• Having had breast surgery.
• Autoimmune diseases.
• Exposure to cold.
• Unlatching the baby immediately after the baby has finished drinking.
• Topical antifungals and some creams such as APNO cream.
• Damage to the breast milk ducts due to the baby not drinking properly or the use of a breast pump.
• Tobacco use.
• Unidentified causes.

How to recognize (Vasospasm)?

A physical exam by a doctor is very important for diagnosis. However, the following tests may also be done:

• ECG (Electrocardiogram - EKG): View the electrical activity of the heart.
• Angiogram: A test that involves injecting a drug into the arteries of the heart to cause vasospasm.
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan.
• CT scan (Computed Tomography - CT).
• MRI scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging - MRI).
• Echocardiogram: An ultrasound examination of the heart.

What are the treatments for (Vasospasm)?

Treatment varies depending on where the vasospasm occurs.

Treatment for Vasospasm of the Heart Arteries

• Taking medications in the calcium channel blockers group.
• Taking medications in the nitrate group.
• Losing weight.
• Stopping drug and tobacco use.
• If there are heart rhythm irregularities such as ventricular tachycardia, installing a device called an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) .

Treatment for Vasospasm in the Brain

• Drinking more fluids.
• Increased blood pressure (on medical advice).
• Removing the cause of vasospasm.
• Giving medications such as verapamil or nimodipine through a vein (intravenous - IV). These are vasodilators.
• Very rarely, if necessary, intra-arterial dilator medication may be administered.

Treatment for Vasospasm in the Hands or Feet

• Wearing socks, mittens, and other warm clothing.
• Avoiding tobacco use.
• Taking medications from the calcium channel blockers group, for example felodipine or amlodipine (Norvasc® or Katerzia®).
• Having surgery or getting a botulinum toxin injection.

Treatment for vasospasm in the mammary glands

• Warming and keeping breast milk puddles covered.
• Things that can cause blood vessels to constrict, for example, smoking.
• If the above methods do not control the condition, sometimes a calcium channel blocker called nifedipine (Nifedical®XL or Procardia®XL) or a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) may be needed.

Are there any side effects of the treatment?

Some medications used for vasospasm can cause side effects such as:

• Headache.
• Stomach discomfort.
• Dizziness.
• Lightheadedness .
• Seizures - This is very rare.

How to reduce the risk of vasospasm?

Some ways to reduce the risk of vasospasm are actually good for the overall health of your heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular).

• Do not use tobacco products.
• Keep your cholesterol levels within the normal range.
• Limit alcohol consumption.
• If you have Type 2 diabetes, control it well.
• If you have high blood pressure, control it.
• Avoid using drugs like cocaine.

How to prevent (Vasospasm)?

To prevent vasospasm, especially in the brain, a doctor can do things like:

• Check the list of medications you are taking and make sure there are no vasoactive medications that constrict blood vessels.
• Preventing high intracranial pressure.
• Giving you a calcium channel blocker medication such as nimodipine or verapamil.

Important: This information is for general information only. If you have any symptoms or want to learn more about this, please seek medical advice.

Is Vasospasms a serious condition?

Vasospasms in the fingers, toes, or nipples can be painful and bothersome. However, they are not life-threatening .

However, if a vasospasm occurs in your heart or brain , the reduced blood flow to those organs can cause tissue damage. This can have a serious impact on heart and brain function.

Less than 5% of cases of coronary vasospasms result in heart failure. However, treatments for heart failure can improve quality of life.

People with severe brain vasospasms may have to stay in the hospital for weeks.

How do I take care of myself?

• Use the medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
• If your symptoms do not improve, inform your doctor.
• Avoiding things that trigger vasospasm can help prevent this condition.
• If you have symptoms of a heart attack (e.g., severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, vomiting), go to an emergency room immediately.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

If you are diagnosed with (vasospasm) or suspect you have it, you can ask your doctor questions like these:

• If the current medication doesn't help, are there other medications I can take?
• Can you refer me to a specialist who can help with lactation issues (if I have vasospasm of the milk ducts)?
• How often should I see you (follow-up appointments)?
• What is the prognosis for my condition?

Finally, things to remember

Vasospasm can affect our bodies in different ways. There are some types of vasospasm that we can control and prevent. Therefore, if you have any questions or doubts about this, do not be shy and talk to your doctor . He or she will advise you on the most suitable treatment plan and prevention methods for you. Stay healthy!

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