International Heart Spasms Alliance
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heartspasms.bsky.social
International Heart Spasms Alliance
@heartspasms.bsky.social
We are a group of patients working with patients & clinicians. We aim to educate, inform & enlighten on the topic of non obstructive heart disease.

#ANOCA #INOCA #MINOCA

Based in Australia, USA & UK

https://www.internationalheartspasmsalliance.org/
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Please help us to help you.
We have collaborated with Adelaide University to develop a series of patient surveys.

The results will help to identify #ANOCA patients & co-design future care pathways.

Please share with patients & clinicians

#cardiosky

surveys.adelaide.edu.au/redcap/surveys…
'Your Heart Speaks' ANOCA patient survey.

Abstract presented at ESC congress 2025
September 18, 2025 at 5:00 PM
'In conclusion, ANOCA progressed from the initial scepticism of the scientific community regarding its existence to the demonstration of its clinical relevance and the need for a standardized diagnostic algorithm (as recommended in current ESC Guidelines)'

academic.oup.com/eurheartj/ad...
Angina with non-obstructive coronary arteries: a success story
This editorial refers to ‘Coronary function testing vs angiography alone to guide treatment of angina with non-obstructive coronary arteries: the ILIAS ANO
academic.oup.com
September 5, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Registration is OPEN for #INOCA2025!
🗓️ 25–26 Sept | 📍 London

Two days of cutting-edge insights into Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction.

✅ Live cases
✅ Patient stories
✅ Tech & trials
✅ Real-world clinical tools

Register here:

www.millbrook-events.co.uk/event/INOCA2...
INOCA 2025. Online registration by Cvent
INOCA 2025 | Millbrook Medical Conferences
www.millbrook-events.co.uk
July 3, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Reposted by International Heart Spasms Alliance
The Role of Myocardial Bridging in Anoca
Jennifer A. Tremmel, MD, MS
Emory Cardiology
youtu.be/0DgL9GqHv8o?...
youtu.be
May 8, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Reposted by International Heart Spasms Alliance
Last month, I had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Dinah van Schalkwijk and Mariëlle Hartzema from the Netherlands to our Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. They’re doing important work on women-focused rehab, especially for patients with ANOCA. Excited for our continued collaboration!
May 14, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Thank you to everyone who passed on the details of our survey.

CONGRATULATIONS to all who took Survey 1! You are, in part, going to the ESC (European Society of Cardiology) Congress with Sarena La on August 29th in Madrid.
surveys.adelaide.edu.au/redcap/surve...
May 13, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Congratulation to Her Heart Australia on their 10year Anniversary Event in Melbourne. Our Co Founder Cindy McCall was honored to be on a panel sharing her experiences, creating awareness of what heart disease truly looks like.
May 9, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Happy Nurse’s Week!
Thank you to all the nurses who advocate for patients and watch out for them in vulnerable moments! They are the backbone of our care.
May 6, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Reposted by International Heart Spasms Alliance
Awesome presentation about #SCAD at #ARRS25

🔑 points:
🫀Difficult dx but not rare— 40% of MI in 🚺 <50
🫀3 types (top L photo)
🫀A/W FMD + vasculopathy
🫀#yescct helpful for initial eval, work up new dx, clarify susp. dx
🫀#whycmr well-established for MINOCA/INOCA
🫀🔗 to AHA guidelines in reply
April 28, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Reposted by International Heart Spasms Alliance
My podcast interview with Golda Arthur on "OVERLOOKED: Women's Health Can't Wait":
We cover implicit bias in cardiology, male-centric health care and why in 2025, we're still seeing women's heart disease "UNDER-researched, UNDER-diagnosed and UNDER-treated overlooked.simplecast.com/episodes/sur...
Surviving a ‘widowmaker’ heart attack, with Carolyn Thomas | Overlooked: Women's Health Can't Wait
Carolyn Thomas was having a heart attack when an emergency room doctor diagnosed her with acid reflux and sent her home.
overlooked.simplecast.com
April 29, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Reposted by International Heart Spasms Alliance
In medicine, the opposite of kindness is not cruelty. It's dismissal.
"I cannot accurately express in mere words how demoralizing being abandoned by the experts you have turned to for urgent medical help can be..."
myheartsisters.org/2025/04/27/i...
In medicine, the opposite of kindness is not cruelty. It’s dismissal.
Six types of simple kindness in the practice of medicine can improve outcomes for patients.
myheartsisters.org
April 27, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Reposted by International Heart Spasms Alliance
Cardiac College for (Freshly Diagnosed) Women:

"I spend about one hour per year checking in with my cardiologist but like many/most heart patients, I spend 8,765 hours per year managing the day-to-day reality of cardiac symptoms/concerns/meds on my own.

myheartsisters.org/2024/03/03/c...
Cardiac College for (Freshly Diagnosed) Women: “Your heart is like a house”
The more heart patients learn about heart disease, the better we can manage the 8,765 hours per year we aren’t spending with our cardiologist. Here’s how ‘Cardiac College for Wome…
myheartsisters.org
April 26, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Sex Differences in Microvascular Disease Parameters with Dr. Michel Corban.

youtu.be/UM8ZobLBA30?...

Part 2: patient perspectives from two men experiencing Coronary Vasospasm. It's not just women who live with #ANOCA

Direct link:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV44...
Interview on Sex Differences in Microvascular Disease Parameters with Dr. Michel Corban
YouTube video by International Heart Spasms Alliance
youtu.be
April 26, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Reposted by International Heart Spasms Alliance
Patient "stories" vs. medical "reports": The Patient Experience Library
If a doctor speaks up when something goes terribly wrong at work, it’s called an incident report, but when a patient speaks up when something’s gone wrong, it’s a complaint. Words do matter."
myheartsisters.org/2024/09/22/p...
Patient “stories” vs. medical “reports”: The Patient Experience Library
“All too often, patients are the first to know when something has gone wrong with their medical treatment.”
myheartsisters.org
April 20, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Reposted by International Heart Spasms Alliance
Just because I can lift it, doesn't mean it's not heavy.

"Invisible illness: Few of us can tell just by looking at a person if they are suffering or not. Even the sickest among us can often look surprisingly "normal..."

myheartsisters.org/2025/04/20/j...
Just because I can lift it, doesn’t mean it’s not heavy
Invisible illness: Few of us can tell just by looking at a person if they are suffering or not. Even the sickest among us can often look surprisingly “normal”.
myheartsisters.org
April 20, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Reposted by International Heart Spasms Alliance
Join us for the 19th Annual Women and Ischemic Heart Disease Symposium on Friday, April 11th — a day dedicated to advancing knowledge, research, and care in women’s heart health. 💓🧠 #Cardiology #MedicalConference #CardiologyConference #MedicalEducation
cedars.cloud-cme.com/course/cours...
April 4, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Reposted by International Heart Spasms Alliance
A packed room to see results from the largest trial in the #INOCA field, presented by Dr. Eileen Handberg. Congrats to the investigators, including Drs. Bairey Merz and @janetweimd.bsky.social of the @womensheart.bsky.social
#ACC25 #cardiosky
March 29, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Reposted by International Heart Spasms Alliance
Important paper on rethinking heart disease, with a focus on atheroma and primary prevention, not just blood supply impairment (reactive, today's mode of secondary prevention) A @thelancet.bsky.social Commission
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
March 31, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Reposted by International Heart Spasms Alliance
Dr. Eileen Handberg: Women with non-obstructive disease are highly symptom burdened, use significant system resources, and need to be treated. We must drop bias, recognize their pain, and ensure proper follow-up care. There’s real room for improvement. 💙 #ACC25
March 29, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Reposted by International Heart Spasms Alliance
Invasive coronary function testing determination of #INOCA endotypes impacts medical management in patients with angina and no obstructive CAD #ACC25 @smidtheart.bsky.social @womensheart.bsky.social @drmarthagulati.bsky.social
March 31, 2025 at 5:37 PM
WARRIOR trial results 'neutral'

"Intensive medical therapy did not significantly impact the rate of serious cardiovascular events at five years in women with suspected ischemia with nonobstructive coronary arteries (INOCA)"

www.acc.org/Latest-in-Ca...
WARRIOR: Intensive Medical Therapy vs. Usual Care in Women With Suspected INOCA - American College of Cardiology
www.acc.org
March 30, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Reposted by International Heart Spasms Alliance
Intensive medical therapy did not significantly impact the rate of serious CV events at five years in women w/ suspected INOCA, according to findings from WARRIOR presented during a #LBCT session at #ACC25.

Learn more: bit.ly/44a7uYO #MedSky #CardioSky
March 29, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Reposted by International Heart Spasms Alliance
UF Cardiology research stalwart, Dr. Eileen Handberg presents the first late breaking trial at #ACC25, the WARRIOR trial @accintouch.bsky.social #cardiosky
March 29, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Reposted by International Heart Spasms Alliance
🌟 Women have been trailblazers in the fields of medicine and science, making lasting impacts that shape our world today. 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇵🇱

Discover the stories of some of the women physicians & scientists who changed the game! 👇🧵

#WomensHistoryMonth #WomenInMedicine #MedSky
March 29, 2025 at 1:00 PM