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Stable angina

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Angina - stable; Angina - chronic; Angina pectoris

Prevention:

Your doctor may tell you to take nitroglycerin a few minutes in advance if you plan to perform an activity that may trigger angina pain.

The best prevention for angina is to lower your risk for coronary heart disease. 

• Stop smoking
• Lose weight if you are overweight
• Control blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol

Reducing risk factors may prevent the blockages from getting worse and can reduce their severity, which reduces angina pain.

References:

Boden WE, O'rourke RA, Teo KK, et al. Optimal Medical Therapy with or without PCI for Stable Coronary Disease. N Engl J Med . 2007 Mar 26; [Epub ahead of print].

Gibbons RJ, Abrams J, Chatterjee K, et al.: ACC/AHA 2002 guideline update for the management of patients with chronic stable angina--summary article: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on practice guidelines (Committee on the Management of Patients With Chronic Stable Angina). J Am Coll Cardiol. 2003; 41(1): 159-68.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves New Treatment for Chest Pain . Rockville, MD: National Press Office; January 31, 2006. Press Release P06-15.

Zipes DP, Libby P, Bonow RO, Braunwald E, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine , 7th ed. St. Louis, Mo; WB Saunders; 2005: 1281-1308.

Mehta SB. Management of coronary heart disease: stable angina, acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction. Prim Care. 2005; 32(4): 1057-81.

• Review Date: 4/3/2007
• Reviewed By: Larry A. Weinrauch, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Private practice specializing in Cardiovascular Disease, Watertown, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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