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Angina
How Can I Prevent Angina?
You can prevent or lower your risk for heart disease and angina by making lifestyle changes and getting treatment for related conditions.
Make Lifestyle Changes
You can lower your risk of heart disease and angina by making healthy lifestyle choices:
• Eat a healthy diet to prevent or reduce high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, and maintain a healthy weight.
• If you smoke, quit.
• Exercise as directed by your doctor.
• Lose weight if you are overweight or obese.
Treat Related Conditions
In addition to making lifestyle changes, you can help prevent heart disease and angina by treating related conditions, such as:
• High blood cholesterol. If you have high cholesterol, follow your doctor's advice about lowering it. Take medications to lower your cholesterol as directed.
• High blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, follow your doctor's advice about keeping your blood pressure under control. Take blood pressure medications as directed.
• High blood sugar (diabetes). If you have diabetes, follow your doctor's advice about keeping your blood sugar levels under control. Take medications as directed.
• Obesity. If you are overweight or obese, talk to your doctor about how to lose weight safely.
Living with Angina
Angina is not a heart attack, but it does mean that you are at greater risk of having a heart attack than someone who does not have angina. The risk is even higher if you have unstable angina. For these reasons, it is important that you know:
• The usual pattern of your angina if you have it on a regular basis
• About your medication
• How to control your angina
• The limits on your physical activity
• How and when to seek medical attention.
Know the Pattern of Your Angina
Stable angina usually occurs in a pattern. You should know:
• What causes the pain to occur
• What it feels like
• How long it usually lasts
• Whether it is relieved by rest or medicine.
After several episodes, you will learn to recognize when you are having angina. It is important for you to notice if the pattern starts to change. The changes in the pattern to look for are if episodes:
• Occur more often
• Last longer
• Are more severe
• Occur without exertion
• Do not go away with rest or medication.
These changes in the pattern may be a sign that your symptoms are getting worse or becoming unstable. You should seek medical attention. Unstable angina suggests that you are at high risk for a heart attack very soon.
Know Your Medications
You should know what medications you are taking, the purpose of each, how and when to take them, and possible side effects. It is very important that you know exactly when and how to take fast-acting nitroglycerin or other nitrates to relieve chest pain. They should be taken:
• Immediately when pain begins or before stressful activity
• Three times spaced 5 minutes apart if pain does not go away.
Always sit down before taking nitroglycerin.
Long-acting nitrate preparations should be used regularly as prescribed by your doctor.
Men with impotence (erectile dysfunction) who take sildenafil (Viagra®) should talk with their doctor. Taking sildenafil and nitroglycerin or other nitrates within 24 hours of each other can cause serious problems.
Ask your doctor about your other medicines. Also follow the links in the Treatment section to read descriptions of the medications that you are taking.
Know How to Control Your Angina
After several episodes, you will know the level of activity, stress, and other things that can bring on your angina. By knowing what brings on your angina, you can take steps to prevent or lessen the severity of episodes.
• Physical exertion. Know what level of activity brings on your angina and try to stop and rest before chest pains start. For example, if walking up a flight of stairs leads to chest pains, then stop halfway and rest before continuing. When chest pain occurs during exertion, stop and rest or take your angina medicine. The pain should go away in a few minutes. If the pain does not go away or lasts longer than usual, call 9-1-1 and get emergency care.
• Emotional stress. Anger, arguing, and worrying are examples of emotional stress that can bring on an angina episode. Try to avoid or limit exposure to situations that cause these emotions. Exercise and relaxation can help relieve stress. Alcohol and drug use play a part in causing stress and do not relieve it. If stress is a problem for you, talk with your doctor about getting counseling to help you deal with stress.
• Eating large meals. If this leads to chest pain, eat smaller meals. Also, avoid eating rich foods.
Know the Limits on Your Physical Activity
Most people with stable angina can continue their normal activities. This includes work, hobbies, and sexual relations. However, if you engage in very strenuous activity or have a stressful job, you may need to discuss this with your doctor.
Know How and When to Seek Medical Attention
If you have angina, you are at high risk of having a heart attack. Therefore, it is very important that you and your family know how and when to seek medical attention. Talk to your doctor about making an emergency action plan. The plan should include:
• The signs and symptoms of a heart attack
• Instructions for the prompt use of aspirin and nitroglycerin
• How to access emergency medical services in your community
• The location of the nearest hospital that offers 24-hour emergency heart care.
Be sure to discuss your emergency plan with your family members. Take action quickly if your chest pain is more severe, lasts longer, or is not relieved by rest or medication.
Sometimes, it may be difficult to tell the difference between unstable angina and a heart attack. Most heart attack victims wait 2 hours or more after their symptoms begin before they seek medical help. This delay can result in death or lasting heart damage.
