Stable angina pectoris treatment: what to know

Stable angina is chest pressure or discomfort that follows a predictable pattern, often during exertion, and settles with rest or prescribed medicine. A clinician may review your symptoms, examine you and arrange tests such as an Electrocardiogram. Treatment can include a short-acting medicine for episodes, regular medicines that reduce the heart's workload, and medicines that address cholesterol or blood pressure. The exact combination depends on your heart health, other conditions and current medicines.

Take prescribed medicines on schedule and keep a record of when discomfort occurs, what you were doing and how it settled. Use your agreed angina medicine exactly as instructed; do not borrow someone else's medicine. Pace activity, stop and rest when symptoms begin, avoid smoking, and attend follow-up appointments. Ask whether Blood Pressure Medication or Statin Therapy is appropriate for your wider cardiovascular risk.

Call emergency services if chest discomfort is severe, lasts longer than your clinician's action plan allows, occurs at rest, or does not improve after the prescribed steps. Seek urgent help as well for breathlessness, cold sweating, faintness, marked weakness, or pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back. A new or changing pattern should be assessed promptly because it may not be stable angina.

Ask which symptoms should trigger your action plan, how to use each medicine, what activity level is suitable, and when your next review or test is needed. Discuss how Hypertension and cholesterol affect your plan.