IHSA website launch

International Heart Spasms Alliance (IHSA) was founded by a group of four women which had a common goal: to do better. Terri Shumaker, Cindy McCall, Sarah Brown, and Annette Pompa all live in different parts of the world and have never met face-to-face. Over a period of five years, these women have created and participated in different Facebook support groups which united them in a common purpose. They may have different backgrounds and experiences, but this medical condition appears to be as elusive as a unicorn in fairyland. There is no cookie cutter approach because each person is unique and does not present the same symptoms.

Terri, Cindy, Sarah, and Annette all came together to unite their voices and thought: “What if there was one place for information for patients, their support system, and clinicians to partner together to solve this problem?” A vision which they started years ago grew more important, especially as they saw things changing, although not quick enough. Even though the women are from three different time zones, they were determined to make a difference and that’s when IHSA was founded. IHSA is dedicated to supporting those affected by unseen heart issues. These include (but are not limited to):

• coronary vasospasms;
• vasospastic angina;
• Prinzmetal angina;
• variant angina;
• coronary artery spasms;
• microvascular angina.

IHSA serves both the patient and medical communities by educating, informing, and enlightening them to help achieve earlier diagnoses, better treatments, and support research regarding these conditions.

IHSA is a global initiative lead by experts through experience. These are patients who are living with coronary vasospasms and microvascular angina, while also working in a collaborative equal partnership with clinicians. We are on a proactive, worldwide, mission to spread comprehensive heart health literacy. Our website will provide accessible, reliable, accurate, and contemporary information. This will allow insight and knowledge on how this chronic condition impacts patient quality of life and long-term outcome for heart patients.

The www.internationalheartspasmsalliance.org website will always be a work in progress and include up-to-date research, testing and other useful information. IHSA has established a charitable fund under a community foundation. This means that donations made to this charitable fund through the foundation will be tax-deductible in the United States.

It is amazing how the stars align when we come together with a common goal and purpose…

Educate – Inform – Enlighten: this is our mission.