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wikiHow to Get Rid of Anginas

Five Methods:Getting Plenty of RestSeeking Medical InterventionMaking Lifestyle ChangesMaking Diet ChangesRecognizing SymptomsCommunity Q&A

Angina is a heart disorder that occurs when the muscles of the heart’s oxygen demand is not met by the circulation. The heart pumps harder to compensate for the inadequacy as a result. The muscles eventually get tired from excessive effort and produce pain. The chest pain produced is called angina. If you don’t know if you are experiencing this condition, scroll down to Method 5 to read about symptoms of angina.

Getting Plenty of Rest

  1. 1
    Understand why it is important to get rest when experiencing angina pain. Rest is necessary to relieve angina. It improves blood flow by relaxing the blood vessels in your body. It also reduces the workload of the heart muscles thereby preventing fatigue.[1]
    • It is important to call for help when angina sets in. While you wait for help, it is important to rest. The following steps discuss how to get the rest you need.
  2. 2
    Stay in a cool, quiet room. Noisy and hot rooms could leave you more irritated. Emotional disturbance raises the heartbeat and may worsen angina.
  3. 3
    Lie down with your head elevated. Use two pillows to do this. Elevate your head for at least five minutes. Angina triggers panic that could then lead to high blood pressure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure may result in other medical complications such as stroke. Head elevation keeps the blood pressure at bay.[2]
  4. 4
    Think of non-stressful things. Think of happy thoughts such as your favorite vacation destination. Relaxing the mind can help your body to relax. This can then improve blood flow by opening up your blood vessels.
  5. 5
    Practice deep breathing. Inhale through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth in a calm, controlled manner to relax your blood vessels and keep you calm.

Seeking Medical Intervention

  1. 1
    Try taking nitrates. Nitrates relax and open up the blood vessels in the body. This helps more oxygen reach the various parts of your body. This helps to relieve heart muscles of the heavy pumping they have to do when you don’t have enough oxygen, which then relieves chest pain.[3] #*Some examples of nitrates include nitroglycerin, isosorbide mononitrate (ISMN), and isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN). These will be discussed in detail in the following steps.
  2. 2
    Take Nitroglycerin (NTG). Nitroglycerin is the oldest known nitrate. NTG’s reputation of rapid symptom relief has led to its use for more than a century. NTG is taken sublingually. The tablet is placed under the tongue. Sublingual medications go into the blood system faster than typical oral tablets; consequently, it gives faster relief.The medication will melt on its own and directly reach the heart blood vessels faster.
    • The typical dose is 0.3 or 0.6 mg tablets placed under the tongue when angina sets in.[4]
  3. 3
    Consider taking Isosorbide Mononitrate (ISMN) ISMN is given as an oral tablet or skin patch. The recommended dose is 30 to 60 mg once daily for oral tablets as maintenance.[5]
    • The recommended dose is 5 to 25 mg/day for patches.[6]
  4. 4
    Try Isosorbide Dinitrate (ISDN). ISDN is also given as oral tablet or skin patch. The recommended dose is 10 to 60 mg two or three times a day for oral tablets as maintenance. The recommended dose is 5-25 mg/day for patches.[7]
  5. 5
    Talk to your doctor about beta-blockers. Beta-blockers slow down the heart rate and reduce the intensity of your heart muscle contractions. This prevents the heart muscles from tiring out and indirectly prevents chest pain. Some examples of beta-blockers are metoprolol and propranolol.
    • The recommend dose for metoprolol is 50 to 200 mg twice daily. The recommended dose for propranolol is 80–120 mg twice daily.[8]
  6. 6
    Try taking calcium channel blockers (CCB). Calcium channel blockers act by reducing the role of calcium in heart contractions and arteries thereby causing relaxation. CCBs are second-line treatment for angina when nitrates and beta-blockers do not provide symptomatic relief. Some of the examples are amlodipine and verapamil.
    • The recommended dose for amlodipine is 5 to 10 mg once a day.[9]
    • The recommended dose for verapamil is 80 to 160 mg three times a day.[10]

Making Lifestyle Changes

  1. 1
    Jog frequently. Jogging opens up the blood vessels of the muscles and heart. Just be sure to get a medical clearance from your doctor prior to exercising to know your limitations and to make sure that you do not overexert yourself.[11]
  2. 2
    Stop smoking. Smoking narrows down the opening of the heart arteries and promotes fat deposition in the walls of the blood vessels. This in turn can lead to angina, so try your best to quit.
    • You can talk to your doctor about ways that you can make quitting easier for yourself. Your doctor may prescribe a patch or even going to a support group.
  3. 3
    Try meditating. Mediation can help you to relax by allowing you to reflect upon the stressors in your life in a collected manner. This can help you to control your stress levels, which may help you to prevent angina from occurring in the future.
    • Find a quiet space and try to clear your mind and find inner peace for at least 15 minutes each day.

Making Diet Changes

  1. 1
    Make the switch from refined grains to whole grains. The additional fiber in your diet will help prevent clogging of heart arteries. Whole grain alternatives include:
    • Whole grain pasta products, brown rice, oatmeal, and barley.
  2. 2
    Eat peanuts for a snack. A handful of peanuts are high in protein and monounsaturated fatty acids. Protein keeps you full longer while the mono-unsaturated fatty acids are good for your heart.[12]
    • Just be sure to keep it to a handful a day. Anything in excess is bad for the body.
  3. 3
    Avoid fast food joints. Fast food meals should not be an integral part of your daily diet. These foods are high in sodium and “bad” fats which can both lead to heart problems.
  4. 4
    Eat small meals throughout the day rather than eating three large meals a day. Five frequent meals are recommended to optimally absorb the nutrients in each meal, while also managing your weight.[13]
    • Smaller and more frequent meals keep your caloric intake at a reasonable range.
  5. 5
    Stay hydrated. Fruit juices and sodas contain lots of sugar. Hydrate with water instead. It is calorie-free and keeps your mind functioning well to sustain healthy food choices. It also helps cleanse the digestive system daily.
    • If you are not a fan of water, try homemade flavored water. Cut up slices of orange, lemon, or any citrus fruit and mix it with a liter of clean drinking water. Let the fruit slices sit for at least 30 minutes to enjoy the added flavor. As a bonus, you get Vitamin C from the fruit.
  6. 6
    Reward yourself. Eating sensibly should not equate to depriving yourself of all treats. Schedule a cheat meal every week. The cheat meal allows you to eat whatever you want. This may help to fight off cravings during the rest of the week.

Recognizing Symptoms

  1. 1
    Monitor chest pain or discomfort you experience. Chest pain or discomfort occurs between 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Chest pain is the most common symptom people with angina experience.
    • The pain is located over the center of the breastbone. Patients will often press a clenched fist against the area of pain which is known as the Levine’s sign.
    • The pain occurs after mild physical exertion. It may occur at rest in some cases. Resting usually relieves the angina after a few minutes.
    • Chest discomfort can be described as a heavy chest. It is often likened to an elephant sitting on the chest.
  2. 2
    Take note of any left shoulder and arm pain you feel. This is the second most common symptom of angina. The pain is described as a tingling sensation that starts from the left shoulder and travels down to the left arm.
    • The pain is produced because the nerve of the heart also supplies the skin of the left shoulder and arm.
    • Sometimes, the pain may be felt simultaneously in the left and right shoulder.
  3. 3
    Keep track of jaw pain. The pain is often felt in the left jaw. The nerve that supplies the heart and skin of the jaw are the same; hence, pain is felt in the jaw when angina sets in.
  4. 4
    Monitor any ache in your stomach. This tummy ache often occurs in the upper abdomen, and generally manifests in the elderly.
    • The pain is reproduced because the nerve supplying the heart and upper abdomen skin are the same.
    • Elderly individuals who complain of tummy ache should be brought to a physician in order to rule out angina.
  5. 5
    Take note if you find that you are fatigued. Fatigue is caused by a deficit in oxygen supply to the different parts of your body. The heart itself cannot receive sufficient oxygen, so it cannot pump oxygen elsewhere.
  6. 6
    Talk to a doctor if you faint. Passing out occurs because of a lack of oxygen flow to the brain. The brain is very metabolically active and needs blood and oxygen flow to function optimally. Insufficient oxygen leads to a power shortage and the eventual shutting down of brain function.

Community Q&A

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  • Will angina give you heart attack while you are sleeping?
    wikiHow Contributor
    If can. If it did, the symptoms are usually so severe that the patient is often woken up. If you think you may be having a heart attack, seek medical attention immediately.
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    • Important reminder for patients with history of angina: Angina should be relieved with nitrates. A maximum trial of 3 tablets should be done at home to achieve relief. Seek medical care immediately should chest pain relief not occur after three trials.
    • Important reminder for patients who are experiencing angina for the first time: Consult a doctor immediately.
    • Beta-blockers should be tapered gradually before discontinuing use. Sudden withdrawal from beta-blockers may worsen angina and lead to heart attack.
    • Important reminder: Beta-blockers may cause blood sugar spikes and narrowing of airways as side effect. Diabetics and asthmatics should consult their physician first before using beta-blockers for angina.

    Sources and Citations

    1. Kumar, Vinay, Abul Abbas, Nelson Fausto, Jon Aster, James Perkins. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease 8th edition. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier, Inc.,2010.
    2. Longo, Dan, Dennis Kasper, J. Larry Jameson, Anthony Fauci, Stephen Hauser, and Joseph Loscalzo. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine 18th edition. New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2011.
    3. http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/nitrates-for-heart-attack-and-unstable-angina
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    Categories: Angina


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