Treatment options

Antianginal medication

According to the American College of Cardiology Guidelines, several types of medications are recommended for treating patients with chronic angina:⁶

• Nitrates (nitroglycerin)
  • Nitrates relax and widen blood vessels. This allows more oxygen-rich blood to flow to the heart⁶
• Beta-blockers
  • Beta-blockers are used to slow the heart rate and reduce blood pressure. When heart rate and blood pressure are reduced, the heart does not work as hard and needs less oxygen⁶
• Calcium channel blockers
  • Calcium channel blockers keep calcium from entering the muscle cells of the heart and blood vessels. This causes the blood vessels to relax and blood pressure goes down¹⁵

It is important to speak to your cardiologist about your angina and discuss any changes in your angina episodes throughout treatment. Be sure to speak to your cardiologist about any side effects that you experience during treatment.

Medical procedures

Depending on your angina and medical history, your cardiologist may recommend a medical procedure, in addition to your medications, to treat your angina.

• Bypass surgery
  With bypass surgery, your surgeon will take arteries or veins from other parts of your body and use these to redirect blood around the narrowed arteries of the heart. Bypass surgery can help to improve blood flow to the heart and relieve chest pain.²
• Angioplasty/Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), also known as stenting Another option is angioplasty or stenting. During this procedure, a thin tube with a balloon is used to push open the walls of the artery. Your doctor may also place a stent in your artery to hold it open after the procedure is over. Angioplasty and stent placement can help to relieve chest pain.²
  
  Bypass surgery or PCI may help to eliminate chronic angina in some patients. However, studies have shown that significant percentages of patients who undergo bypass or PCI still experience angina one to five years after the procedure. If your doctor suggests a procedure, discuss risks, benefits, and possible alternatives before making your decision.¹⁰

Cardiac rehabilitation

Your doctor may recommend cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) to reduce your angina. Cardiac rehab can help increase your physical fitness, improve your health, and decrease risk factors for coronary heart disease, a heart problem that commonly leads to chronic angina.^2,13,14

Cardiac rehab is a program that is medically supervised by a team that may include doctors, nurses, exercise specialists, nutritionists, psychologists, and other healthcare specialists.^13,14 The program is customized to fit your needs and may involve:^2,13,14

• Medical evaluation to determine your needs and limitations
• Physical activity which may involve training in a group setting where your heart rate and blood pressure are monitored
• Counseling and education to understand your heart condition
• Support and training to help you return to your normal activities

Speak with your cardiologist to see if a cardiac rehab program is right for you. Exercise training may not be safe for all patients.¹⁴

Click here to watch a video segment about Claudia's visit to cardiac rehab.

Learn more about reducing treatment side effects