June 26, 2016
I am a healthy 64 year old woman. Just over a week ago I was walking happily along the street when I was suddenly overtaken by a violent, prolonged, uncontrollable coughing fit which left me with a headache for 2 days after which I appeared to be completely fine. 5 days after the coughing fit on getting up in the morning I had a cramping upper chest pain which radiated periodically to my throat and upper arms, my arms felt heavy and I felt dizzy and was very pale.
An ambulance took me to the local hospital where all tests appeared to be fine until they discovered a rising troponin level which led to my admission and subsequent angiogram. This revealed a tear in the right coronary artery caused by the coughing fit. Fitted with a stent but had another stent fitted at the same time as the procedure caused the vessel to tear a bit more. Extremely grateful to all the medical staff involved. It only happened a few days ago but I am pleased to be feeling fit and well.