Angina treatment with lifestyle changes and nitroglycerin may be all that is needed if your symptoms are mild and stabilized. The main goals of treatment are to reduce associated discomfort and the number of occurrences. And to lower your risk of death by your underlying heart condition.
You can help prevent or reduce your episodes of angina by making lifestyle changes, starting with:
- adopt a healthy diet
- avoid stressful situations
- reduce high blood pressure
- reduce high blood cholesterol
- avoid consuming large, rich meals
- slowing down and take rest breaks
- reduce weight if you’re overweight or obese
Following a heart healthy eating plan that focuses on:
- fruits
- vegetables
- whole grains
- lean meat & fish
- low, no fat dairy products
- low in salt, fat, saturated fat, trans fat & cholesterol
Other important lifestyle adjustment include:
Nitroglycerin is the most commonly used nitrate for angina. Nitrates relax and widen blood vessels, allowing more blood to your heart with a reduction in its workload.
Nitroglycerin that dissolves under your tongue or between your cheeks and gum is used to relieve an angina episode. Nitroglycerin in the form of pills and skin patches is used to prevent attacks of angina.
Your angina treatment may also include beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, oral anti platelet and anticoagulants, which help:
- slow the heart rate
- relax blood vessels
- reduce strain on the heart
- prevent blood clots from forming
- lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels
When lifestyle changes and medicines aren’t enough to control your angina, you may require more drastic measures to treat an underlying heart disease, such as angioplasty, coronary artery bypass grafting or cardiac rehab.