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Living with angina
You can find all the necessary information to understand angina, its global impact, its causes and consequences, and how to get angina under control.
Angina

Taking control

How should angina be managed?1,2

Angina pectoris treatment is based on 2 approaches: one that is an acute management of the painful attack and one that is long term.

The objectives are to

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Restore, if possible, a good blood flow to the heart.
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Manage the symptoms.
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Prevent angina attacks.
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Avoid complications such as
myocardial infarction
or heart failure .

Light bulbDid you know?

44%

of patients don’t have an adequate treatment.3

Only 25%

of patients who reported angina in the prior month have their treatment escalated at the end of their visit.4

Treatments to manage angina

Why do I need an acute treatment?1,2

Goal

To treat the angina attack and the associated pain.

When?

When you experience angina chest pain or discomfort or before a potential trigger (exercise, emotional stress, heavy meal, etc).

How?

By taking specific medicines: short-acting nitrates in the form of tablets that you put under your tongue or as a mouth spray.

Why?

It will relax and widen your blood vessels, increasing your blood flow and restoring a good blood flow to your heart.

Why do I need a long-term treatment?

Goal

To treat the angina attack and the associated pain.

When?

Daily, as angina is a chronic symptom and therefore a long-term treatment is needed.

How?

By a multifaceted approach including medicines, lifestyle changes, sometimes medical procedures and surgery if needed, and by knowing your triggers.

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Lifestyle changes1

To live with angina and reduce the risk of having further problems in the future, it is not only about managing angina pain and its other symptoms. You have an important role to play, particularly by changing your lifestyle to include doing regular exercise, quitting smoking, managing your stress, monitoring your blood pressure, improving your diet, and moderating alcohol consumption.
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Start doing regular physical activity.7-9

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Quit smoking.10-13

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Improve your diet.14,15

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Manage your stress.7,16,18

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Monitor your blood pressure.7

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Find more about heart rate.19-21

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Medical procedures and surgery1

Medical procedures and surgery may be considered if needed. If you would like more information on this treatment approach, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor.

Know your triggers1

As most episodes of angina follow a pattern, try to know and to track your possible triggers (exercise, emotional stress, etc) to manage episodes of angina.

Show references

References