Thu Sep 08, 2005 9:07 am   Reply with quote      

Drugs can help in various ways. They can:

* reduce the chance of blood clots developing
* increase the blood supply to your heart
* reduce the work your heart has to do, and
* help keep your blood cholesterol levels down.

Remember, never run out of your tablets!

Drugs for angina include anti-platelet drugs (such as aspirin), nitrates, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers and potassium channel activators. You may also be given cholesterol-lowering medicines to reduce your risk of having a heart attack.

Aspirin (and other anti-platelet drugs)
Aspirin has been used for relieving pain for more than 100 years, but it is also useful for people with angina, and people who have had a heart attack or stroke. It helps to prevent the blood from clotting by reducing the 'stickiness' of platelets - the small blood cells that can clump together to form a clot. The dose you need for this effect is smaller than the dose you would need to relieve a headache.

Aspirin is used almost routinely for treating patients with known coronary heart disease, unless there are strong reasons for not giving it - for example, if you are allergic to it or if you have had a serious unwanted effect from aspirin before. It is important that your blood pressure is normal before you start taking aspirin.

Other anti-platelet drugs such as clopidogrel have recently been developed.

Unwanted effects
Aspirin can cause indigestion, nausea and vomiting. These stomach problems may be reduced by using special preparations of the drug. More seriously, aspirin can provoke or worsen bleeding from the stomach. Occasionally it can bring on an asthma attack.

These harmful effects are not common, but because of them, aspirin is not recommended as a way to prevent heart attacks or strokes in healthy people.

Nitrates

Nitrates open up the blood vessels. They reduce the work of the heart and also help to widen the coronary arteries.

As soon as you get an attack of angina, place a glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) tablet under your tongue. Or you can take a tablet just before doing something you think is likely to bring on your angina. Keep your tablets in the container in which they are given to you and replace them every eight weeks, even if you have not used them all.

Or, you may be given a nitrate spray to use if you have an attack of angina. Spray this under your tongue, and close your mouth after each dose. (You don't need to shake the container first).

Some nitrates are used to prevent angina. These are sometimes given as tablets - for example, isosorbide mononitrate and isosorbide dinitrate. Others can be absorbed slowly through the skin from a plaster or patch. You need to remove the patch for a few hours each day to avoid becoming resistant to nitrates. You can still use your spray or tablets under your tongue if you have an angina attack.

Beta-blockers

These drugs come in tablet form and you need to swallow them whole. They act by slowing the heart rate. This reduces the amount of work the heart has to do, so that it needs less oxygen, blood and nutrients. Taken regularly, beta-blockers like Amlodipine can help reduce the frequency of angina attacks.

Beta-blockers are not usually suitable for people with asthma or bronchitis. If you have diabetes, your doctor may prefer not to give you beta-blockers, but there is no hard and fast rule.

Thu Sep 08, 2005 10:12 pm   Reply with quote      

You should always consult your doctor, right?

Sat Sep 10, 2005 9:11 pm   Reply with quote      

Yes, you should.

Sat Oct 15, 2005 9:44 pm   Reply with quote      

What has the original post got to do with alternative/complementary therapies?? It is accepted orthodox treatment.

Angina pectoris is caused by fear. Fear is in opposition to love, and when you remove 'love' from the 'heart', that's when the problems start.