1. Get Into Good Habits for a Bad Heart
Angina occurs when a certain area of the heart does not get an adequate supply of oxygen-rich blood. Though not a heart attack, angina can certainly feel like one, and lead to that if not treated properly. For many, part of that treatment is a change in lifestyle. Losing weight, exercising, eating right (a low-fat diet consisting of fruits and vegetables, lean meat and fish and whole grains), and stopping smoking as well as eliminating exposure to secondhand smoke are all vital in reducing attacks of angina. Reducing or avoiding specific activities or habits that spark an attack is important, as well. If, for instance, angina is brought on by stress, then stress management is a must; if certain foods bring it on, avoiding those foods will consequently reduce attacks.
2. Medications to Get to the Heart of the Matter
Medications are the first line of defense when it comes to angina. Nitrates improve blood flow by relaxing and widening blood vessels. Nitroglycerin pills that dissolve under the tongue is the most common type used for angina. Beta-blockers are also popular, acting to decrease blood pressure and slow the heart rate, thus decreasing oxygen demand from the heart. If the angina has been determined to be the result of a spasm of the coronary artery, calcium-channel blocking drugs will be used. As muscles need a certain amount of calcium to contract, reducing the amount of calcium entering the walls of the coronary artery will thus reduce spasms. As with most medications, there are side effects of these drugs, from minor (lightheadedness and headaches) to serious (depression, impotence and worsening of asthma symptoms).
3. Surgical Intervention for Stubborn Cases
Sometimes, a medical procedure may be needed for more severe cases that don't respond as well to medications. The most common type of procedure is an angioplasty, wherein a thin tube with a balloon on one end is sent through the artery and then the balloon expanded to widen the artery and increase blood flow. In some cases, a small mesh stent is placed inside the artery to keep it open. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (taking healthy arteries from elsewhere in the body and routing them around the damaged artery) is also an option.
4. The Wave of the Future
Currently, alternative treatment options for angina are being researched. Gene therapy, wherein the person is injected with a human growth factor gene (FGF4) to help stimulate blood vessel growth, is one such method. Early studies have shown patients treated with gene therapy have significantly increased exercise time, suggesting improved blood flow. Studies using azithromycin, a common antibiotic, have also shown promise as a treatment for angina; when compared to a placebo group, those administered azithromycin showed blood flow improvement. It is thought that since bacterial infections can damage the lining of blood vessels and thus lead to angina, antibiotic therapy may be a viable course of treatment.
