Word: spasms
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...Coronary spasm may explain the infrequent incidents of chest pain and heart attack in premenopausal women, who rarely develop atherosclerosis. The spasm may cause blood to flow more slowly, thus allowing blood platelets to clump, clot and seal off the pathway...
...Spasm may be the underlying cause of angina, coronary attacks, and sudden unexplained death in cases where the heart arteries are partly clogged by fatty plaque buildup. Dr. Attilio Maseri reported that, while at the University of Pisa, he examined some 200 patients who suffered chest pains during periods of inactivity and who had varying degrees of atherosclerosis. He found that their chest pains were due to spasm. Said he: "Atherosclerotic narrowing of the vessels is the bystander rather than the culprit of angina in such patients." But, experts agree, a spasm that might merely hinder the flow of blood...
What causes the spasm is not yet clear, but there is anecdotal evidence that psychological stress plays a role. Researchers also know that clumping blood platelets release thromboxane A2, a substance that causes the constriction of blood vessels and therefore can trigger spasm...
...awareness about spasm has led to a new line of attack against heart disease. Traditional coronary dilators, like the nitroglycerin tablets taken by angina patients, may assume greater importance-as will new ones, such as the experimental drugs nifedipine and verapamil...
Doctors are also enthusiastic about a substance that inhibits the aggregation of platelets and may reduce the risk of spasm-that old standby called aspirin...