Managing Your Angina

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Making Your Medications Work for You
In conjunction with a healthy diet and other lifestyle changes, medication therapy may help minimize angina and also help improve health conditions that can put you at risk for heart trouble. Nitroglycerin is the medication normally prescribed to treat angina, but it can have side effects, as can cholesterol- or blood pressure-lowering drugs. So take your medications exactly as directed by your doctor. They can not only improve your quality of life but also be a real lifesaver. Here are 6 must-know questions to ask your doc about medication safety.

From our advertiser: How Much Angina is Too Much? Take the Angina Assessment and Find Out.

Be an Expert on Your Meds
Learning all you can about your prescription medications promotes safety and helps you get the most out of your treatment. The more you know about your medications, the better you'll be able to manage your condition. Get more tips on being a smart, proactive patient.

Follow your doctor's instructions closely when taking medication. And notify him or her right away if you experience any side effects. Your doctor may need to reassess your condition and adjust your treatment if you're having problems.

Give Yourself Friendly Reminders
Forgetting or neglecting to take your medication may weaken its effectiveness and could put your health at risk. Remembering to take your medications, especially newly prescribed ones, may be easier if you use these helpful reminders:

• Set specific times to take your medicine each day. Associate your medications with activities that occur during those times. (Related: Here's a memory trick to help you remember when you've taken your medication.)
  
  
• Post a note in a prominent place, such as on your dining room chair if you take your medicine with meals, or on your nightstand if you take your medication while getting ready for bed. (Related: Find out why storing prescription medication in the kitchen or bathroom isn't ideal.)
  
  
• Create a calendar that lists the designated time(s) and days for taking your medicine, and mark it when you've taken a dose.
  
  
• Keep your medication in a divided pill box, preferably one that is separated into the days of the week.

Keep track of your important medical information in this printable health journal.

Watch Out for Medication Interactions
Before taking any prescription medication, give your doctor and pharmacist a list of all the medicines (including over-the-counter ones) and natural supplements (vitamins, minerals, and herbs) that you're currently taking. Some medications prescribed for heart and blood vessel conditions may interfere with other medicines, and vice versa. And certain foods and beverages may also interfere with your medications, including the following:

• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice. Recent research has shown that grapefruit juice causes the body to absorb certain kinds of blood pressure medications (calcium channel blockers) and cholesterol medications (statins) too quickly. Ask your doctor, cardiologist or pharmacist about medication interactions. (Learn more about the interactions between grapefruit and blood pressure meds.)
  
  
• Decongestants and cold medications. If, in addition to your angina, you have high blood pressure, avoid certain types of decongestants and cold medicines that can raise your blood pressure. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for cold and flu relievers that won't affect your blood pressure.

Look for the next issue in this RealAge newsletter series to provide you with tips on getting the most out of your doctor visits.

From our advertiser: Find Out How Much You May Be Limiting Activities To Avoid Angina.

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