Stable angina pectoris: patterns, care, and warning signs

The word stable refers to a fairly consistent relationship between demand on the heart and symptoms. Walking uphill, carrying a load, rushing, cold weather, or strong emotion may bring on pressure or tightness at a similar level of effort. Rest reduces the heart's oxygen demand. Stability does not mean the underlying coronary artery disease can be ignored or that every future episode is harmless.

Keep a record of the activity, weather, meal, emotional context, symptom length, and response to rest or rescue medicine. Pace strenuous tasks and warm up before activity, but do not become inactive without medical advice. Take preventive and rescue treatments as prescribed. Blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, smoking, sleep, and activity habits all deserve attention because treatment extends beyond relieving individual episodes.

Seek emergency help when discomfort occurs at rest, is more severe, lasts beyond the familiar pattern, starts with less effort than before, or does not respond to your prescribed plan. Breathlessness, cold sweating, nausea, faintness, or pain moving to the arm, jaw, shoulder, or back also warrants immediate action. Do not wait for a routine appointment when the established pattern changes suddenly.

Bring your symptom record and medicine list. Ask what level of activity is safe, whether testing is needed, how to take rescue medicine, and exactly when to call emergency services. Discuss any headaches, dizziness, fatigue, or other treatment effects so the plan can be adjusted without leaving the angina untreated.