One night, Angus begins to feel unwell with chest tightness after walking his dog. He tries his GTN spray but it doesn”t help. Angus phones 999 and is admitted to the Accident & Emergency Department.
All his tests for acute coronary syndrome are negative and he is discharged home the next day. Angus is reassured by medical and nursing staff that everything is normal and there is no indication he has experienced a further cardiac event. Despite this reassurance, Angus feels very anxious.
Angus visits his GP after this admission for a general review and to discuss his medications. He informs the GP he is having difficulty sleeping and is lying awake overnight, worrying that he might have another heart attack. He has tried taking warm drinks and reading until he feels sleepy, but is having difficulty relaxing. The GP gives him some general advice about sleeping but does not want to prescribe sleeping tablets at this stage but tells Angus to make another appointment if his sleep pattern does not improve.
There are three main areas that Angus is particularly anxious about:
- he is scared of having another heart attack and of dying at an early age, like his father
- he is anxious that the stress of his job will cause another heart attack
- he is worried that his relationship with his girlfriend will suffer, as he has read that some men have erection problems following heart attack
Angus’ thought bubble worries (left to right)
“I don’t want to die young like my dad.”
“I’m scared I will have another heart attack.”
“My job is so stressful, I hope it doesn’t cause me to have another heart attack.”
“I’m worried my girlfriend will leave me if we can’t have sex.”
Pulse point
Some people with heart conditions have sexual problems which may be related to their anxiety.
For information on sexual problems, contact the Sexual Advice Association on 020 7486 7262 or email: [email protected]
