Angina Pectoris (Chest Pain) - Page 5
Does medication always help ease an angina attack?
It does if you have stable angina, the most common sort. If you've been diagnosed with unstable angina, symptoms of an angina attack will closely mimic those of a heart attack. Often, medication doesn't help unstable angina, and it lasts longer than a few minutes and occurs when you're not exerting yourself. You need to discuss with your doctor how to monitor your condition and when you should consider symptoms an emergency.
Knowing the pattern of your angina attacks should help you identify a true emergency, especially if there are changes in duration, cause, or intensity.
If I have angina, what do I have to do to take care of myself?
Your doctor will advise you on how much you can do based on the results of your tests. A supervised exercise program for heart patients can be extremely helpful, but you may need to modify your activities so you don't overtax yourself (see Exercise and Heart Disease). If a big, rich meal sets off an attack, try smaller portions. If walking quickly causes symptoms, slow down your gait. In very cold or windy weather you'll probably have to bundle up better and cover your head and face; your doctor may even tell you to put a nitroglycerin tablet under your tongue before stepping outside. And if you've had a heart attack already, your doctor may prescribe a low dose of aspirin every day to prevent another one.
If you have heart trouble, you'll be healthier if follow these guidelines:
- Control high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels.
- Maintain a low-fat, low-sodium diet.
- If you smoke, quit.
- Reduce or stop your alcohol consumption.
- If you're overweight, try to drop a few pounds.
- Exercise 30 minutes at least 5 days a week, unless your doctor forbids it.
Heart disease is generally treated with medication. In some cases, however, people have successfully reversed heart disease by exercising, following a strict, low-fat diet recommended by their doctors, and making other lifestyle changes.
Further Resources
American Heart Association 800-242-8721
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 800-575-9355
References
Angina, National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute, 2010.
Angina pectoris, American Heart Association, 2010.
Nitroglycerin Sublingual. Health for Life. Ohio State University Medical Center.
Heart Attack and Angina Statistics. American Heart Association, 2007.
American Heart Association. Heart Attack and Angina Statistics.
ACC/AHA Guidelines for the Management of Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction-Executive Summary. ACC/AHA Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2004;110:588-636 Accessed 21 Nov 2008.
Mayo Clinic. Heart disease in women: Understand symptoms and risk factors. January 2009.
Mayo Clinic. Angina. June 2009.
American Academy of Family Physicians. Angina and Heart Disease. November 2006.
Last Updated: March 21, 2011
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