Discharge Instructions for Angina

You have been diagnosed with a type of chest pain called angina. This pain occurs when too little oxygen reaches the heart muscle. It is most often felt under your breastbone, in your left shoulder, or down your left arm. The pain may even spread to your jaw or back. Exercise, increased activity, emotional upset, or stress can trigger this pain. With proper treatment and lifestyle changes to reduce risk factors, most people with angina are able to maintain a full and active life.

Managing Risk Factors

• Learn how to take your own blood pressure. Keep a record of your results. Ask your doctor which readings mean that you need medical attention.

• Maintain a healthy weight. Get help to lose any extra pounds.

• Cut back on salt.

  • Limit canned, dried, packaged, and fast foods.

  • Don’t add salt to your food at the table.

  • Season foods with herbs instead of salt when you cook.

• Begin an exercise program. Ask your doctor how to get started. You can benefit from simple activities such as walking or gardening.

• Break the smoking habit. Enroll in a stop-smoking program to improve your chances of success.

• Avoid stressful situations. Learn stress-management techniques.

Taking Medication

• Keep a record of your episodes of chest pain. Take these with you when you see your doctor.

• Take your medication (usually nitroglycerin) exactly as directed. Don’t skip doses.

• Keep your nitroglycerin with you at all times.

• If you're on nitroglycerin, don't take Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra at all. These medications can react with nitroglycerin and cause your blood pressure to drop to a dangerous or even life-threatening level.

• If you use nitroglycerin to prevent angina attacks, follow your doctor's instructions for your kind of nitroglycerin (pill, spray, or ointment).

• If you use nitroglycerin to stop an angina attack, follow these steps:

  • Sit down (you may become dizzy).

  • Place one tablet under your tongue, or between your lip and gum, or between your cheek and gum. Let the tablet dissolve completely; do not chew or swallow the tablet.

  • If you use a spray, then spray once under your tongue or inside your cheek. Do not inhale. Close your mouth. Wait a few seconds before you swallow.

  • After taking one tablet or spraying once, sit for 5 minutes.

  • If the angina goes away, rest a while and continue your normal routine.

  • If the angina does not go away or gets worse, CALL 911 immediately. Do NOT delay. You may be having a heart attack!

Follow-Up

Make a follow-up appointment as directed by our staff.