Stable Angina: What It Feels Like and What to Do

Stable angina is chest pain that happens when your heart needs more oxygen than the narrowed coronary arteries can deliver. It usually comes on with activity or stress and eases with rest or nitroglycerin. If you get predictable chest tightness when walking uphill or after a big meal, that pattern points to stable angina rather than a sudden heart attack.

Quick at-home steps when symptoms start

If you feel chest discomfort that you suspect is angina, stop what you’re doing and sit down. Take your prescribed short-acting nitroglycerin under the tongue — one dose, then wait five minutes. If pain continues, you can take a second dose, and a third after another five minutes (follow your doctor’s instructions). If pain lasts more than 10–15 minutes or gets worse, call emergency services right away.

A key safety note: never take nitrates (like nitroglycerin or Isordil) if you’ve used erectile dysfunction drugs such as sildenafil (Viagra) within the past 24–48 hours — that combo can dangerously drop your blood pressure.

Common treatments, tests, and lifestyle moves

Treatment aims to reduce symptoms and lower heart attack risk. Typical meds include:

- Short-acting nitrates (for quick relief).
- Beta-blockers (slow the heart and cut oxygen demand).
- Calcium channel blockers (relax arteries).
- Antiplatelet drugs like aspirin (reduce clot risk).
- Statins (lower cholesterol and stabilize plaques).
- ACE inhibitors or ARBs if you have high blood pressure or heart damage.

Doctors will check your heart with an ECG, blood tests, and often a stress test. If results suggest significant blockages, coronary angiography can show where arteries are narrowed and whether angioplasty or stents are needed.

Lifestyle changes matter: stop smoking, aim for regular moderate exercise (after your doctor says it’s safe), eat more vegetables and whole grains, limit salt and processed foods, and control diabetes and blood pressure. Small steps add up — losing 5–10% of body weight can cut symptoms for many people.

Follow-up with a cardiologist is crucial. If your angina pattern changes — it comes on at rest, is more frequent, or lasts longer — treat that as a red flag and get urgent care. Stable angina can be managed well, but it needs the right medicines, checks, and daily habits to keep you out of the ER and feeling better.