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Angina treatments that are advised in most cases

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Lifestyle measures to reduce 'risk factors'

Discussed on previous page.

GTN (Glyceryl Trinitrate)

This comes as tablets or sprays. You take a dose under your tongue 'as required' when a pain develops. GTN is absorbed quickly into the bloodstream from under the tongue. A dose works to ease the pain within a minute or so. Many people always carry their GTN spray or tablets with them. Some people take a GTN tablet or a spray before any exercise. For example, before climbing stairs. If the first dose does not work, take a second dose after five minutes. (If the pain persists for 15 minutes despite taking GTN, then call an ambulance.)

GTN works by relaxing the blood vessels. This reduces the workload on the heart, and also helps to widen the coronary arteries and increase the flow of blood to the heart muscle.

GTN tablets 'go off' after a few weeks. Therefore, you need a fresh supply of tablets every eight weeks, and return any unused tablets to the pharmacist. You may prefer to use a GTN spray which has a longer shelf life than tablets. A dose of GTN may cause a headache and/or flushing for a short while. This side-effect often improves, or goes, with continued use.

A statin drug to lower your cholesterol level

Cholesterol is a chemical that is made in the liver from fatty foods that you eat. Cholesterol is involved in forming atheroma. As a rule, the higher the blood cholesterol level, the greater the risk of developing atheroma. However, whatever your cholesterol level, a reduction in the level is usually advised if you have angina. Statin drugs lower the blood cholesterol level by blocking an enzyme (chemical) which is needed to make cholesterol in the liver.

There are several brands of statin drugs to chose from. The aim is to reduce your cholesterol level to below 4 mmol/l or by 25% of the original level, whichever gives the greatest reduction.