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Illustrated Health Encyclopedia
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Ency. home > Disease > S > Stable angina

Stable angina    See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Angina - stable; Coronary artery disease

Treatment

The goals of treatment are the reduction of symptoms and prevention of complications.

Rest if angina occurs.

Sublingual nitroglycerin relieves the pain of nitroglycerin during an attack. Prophylactic (preventative) treatment with nitroglycerin, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and aspirin may prevent angina. Medications may be given to control cholesterol, blood pressure, and abnormal heart rhythms.

Cardiac rehabilitation programs may be recommended to improve cardiovascular fitness.

Surgery may be recommended in certain situations. This includes CABG (coronary artery bypass grafting) or PTCA (balloon angioplasty).

Prognosis

Angina symptoms are usually improved with treatment. The death rate varies and depends on many factors. Sudden death, acute MI (heart attack), or unstable angina may occur.

Complications

Call Your Health Care Provider If:

Call your health care provider if any of the following:

  • chest pain develops that has not been evaluated yet
  • known angina changes in frequency, severity, duration, or character (for example, happening at rest, even without exertion)
  • a known angina requires increasing doses of nitroglycerin or is not relieved within 15 minutes

Ency. home > Disease > S > Stable angina

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