Drug treatment for angina pectoris

Angina is one of the most common heart diseases. Characterized by attacks of short-term chest pain, which is caused by physical or emotional stress, other factors leading to an increase in the metabolic needs of the myocardium. The pain is localized behind the sternum, gives to the left arm, the left half of the face, under the scapula, in the neck. Sometimes the irradiation of pain is special - in the tooth, ear, tongue. Pain usually lasts 1-2, less than 10-15 minutes and quickly passes after taking a tablet of nitroglycerin or other nitrates.

Basic principles of the treatment of angina pectoris:

• timely removal of a pain attack;
• prophylaxis of new attacks of angina pectoris;
• nomalization of rheological properties of blood and prevention of blood clots.

Treatment of an attack and interstitial therapy

Drug treatment for angina is aimed at improving the coronary circulation, metabolism in the myocardium. It is divided into treatment of an acute attack of angina and therapy of the disease in the interictal period.

The attack of angina is stopped by the intake of nitroglycerin. The drug lasts up to 5 minutes. With the continuation of pain, nitroglycerin can be repeated. You can also use sedatives, validol, beta-blockers and calcium antagonists. Drug treatment for angina during an attack can be supplemented by a distraction therapy in the form of a mustard plaster on the heart area and a hot water bottle or hand bath to the left hand.

In the interictal period, patients are prescribed nitrates of prolonged action. These drugs act like nitroglycerin, but for a longer time. They have a vasodilator effect, which leads to the accumulation of blood in the veins and a decrease in its return to the heart. This causes a decrease in the volume and intensity of the left ventricle, as well as a decrease in the need for cardiac muscle in oxygen. Reducing the need for oxygen leads to a redistribution of blood flow in the myocardium in favor of sites suffering from ischemia.

Beta-blockers reduce heart rate and myocardial oxygen demand. The effectiveness of the treatment of angina increases significantly when combining prolonged nitrates and beta-blockers.

In the treatment of angina pectoris, calcium antagonists are also widely used, which are combined with the preparations of the above groups.

Drug treatment for angina is performed more intensively during periods of increased and more frequent attacks of the disease. After achieving the therapeutic effect and persistent remission of the disease, the doses of medications are gradually reduced to the minimum effective.

If the medical treatment of angina pectoris is ineffective, surgery is indicated. This type of treatment consists of aortocoronary bypass surgery with limited lesions of large coronary arteries and vascular plasty and chronic aortic aneurysm.

Prevention of the disease

Angina pectoris largely depends on the development of atherosclerosis. Therefore, the primary prevention of angina pectoris is mainly reduced to the prevention of atherosclerosis. Prevention of attacks, that is, secondary, should be aimed at the implementation of rational therapy of atherosclerosis, treatment of pain syndrome. It is necessary to prevent and treat violations of heart rhythm and heart failure.

Knowing how to treat angina, you can timely provide first aid to yourself or loved ones. For diagnosis of the disease and the appointment of qualified treatment should consult a specialist.