Patient Testimonials

A 65-year-old woman living in Kitami City, Hokkaido

Since around 2018, I have been suffering from unexplained chest pain attacks that occur during sleep at night and in the early morning. Interestingly, these episodes rarely happen during the daytime, and I have never experienced chest pain even while running marathons as a hobby. The uncomfortable chest pain gradually increased in frequency, and after visiting a nearby clinic, I was told that angina was suspected. I was then referred to a core hospital’s cardiology department in the city.

There, I underwent a coronary CT scan, which showed no narrowing of the coronary arteries due to arteriosclerosis, leading to suspicion of vasospastic angina. I was started on oral medication. However, the chest pain attacks did not subside, so I researched online and learned about a condition called microvascular angina. A friend told me that Tohoku University’s Department of Cardiology is well-versed in vasospastic angina and microvascular angina, so I decided to visit Sendai.

At Tohoku University, I underwent a coronary spasm provocation test using a catheter, which confirmed the diagnosis of “vasospastic angina with microvascular dysfunction.” I was relieved to finally understand my condition clearly. Additionally, my medication was adjusted, and now I rarely experience attacks. I am very grateful for the treatment I received.