Angina, sometimes called angina pectoris, is a type of chest pain that occurs when a person has blockages in the arteries that lead to the heart. Two forms of angina exist: stable and unstable. Stable angina is somewhat predictable in nature---exertion can cause chest pain because the heart works harder to get the extra oxygen needed during exercise. Resting relieves the pain of stable angina. Unstable angina is harder to predict---it has no real pattern and can occur during times of rest as well as during periods of activity. Treatment for both types of angina include changes in lifestyle and medications. Surgery may be required to treat angina in some people.
Lifestyle Changes
Your doctor may recommend changing the way in which you go about your everyday activities if you suffer from angina. Smoking can make angina and the further complications of heart disease worse and should be avoided. If you're able, getting some exercise can help keep your heart healthy and prevent further blockages from forming. Begin an exercise program under the supervision of your doctor because strenuous exercise may make stable angina symptoms worse. Have your blood cholesterol tested so you can begin to treat the high levels that can contribute to angina. Stress may also make angina symptoms more pronounced, so getting that aspect of your life under control can help minimize your discomfort.
Weight Management
Maintaining an ideal weight is a non-invasive form of treatment that helps control angina symptoms. Carrying around extra weight puts you at a higher risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease. Losing weight through careful exercise and a healthy diet can prevent additional buildup in your arteries and keep your heart from working too hard. Include an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet and limit sweets and fried foods cooked with saturated fats. Incorporate fiber-rich whole grains into your diet, including oatmeal, brown rice, whole wheat breads and even whole-wheat pastas.
Medications
Angina is treated with a number of different medications that open the blood vessels and slow down the heart rate. Vasodilator drugs, called nitrates and calcium channel blockers, make your blood vessels relax and widen so more oxygen can get through to your heart. Beta blockers slow your heart to lower your blood pressure and also widen the blood vessels. Statin drugs help reduce cholesterol, which can slow the incidences of angina episodes. To avoid harmful interactions between medicines, let your doctor know of other medications you are taking before you begin a regimen of angina drugs.
Supplements
Two natural supplements, called L-arginine and L-carnitine, may be beneficial for people who have angina. These two amino acids are naturally present in the body but can be taken as dietary supplements when a person is lacking sufficient stores of the acids. They reduce inflammation in the blood vessels that cause blockages, which in turn causes angina pain. Consult your doctor before beginning L-arginine or L-carnitine supplements to be sure that they are safe for you.
Surgical Procedures
Angioplasty is a surgical procedure that can be performed to treat angina. During the surgery, a small, balloon-like apparatus is inserted into the blocked artery. Air is pumped into the balloon, thus inflating the artery back to its original width. During some angioplasty procedures, surgeons use a laser to remove some of the plaque from the walls of the artery. Bypass surgery may also be used to treat angina. During this procedure, the blocked arteries are bypassed and the blood vessels rerouted to deliver blood to the heart. Stents may be placed inside the veins to keep the blood vessels open and to eliminate angina symptoms.
