Angina, unstable

Unstable angina: what you can do to help yourself

If you get unstable angina, you will need emergency treatment to keep you from having a

heart attack
Doctors call a heart attack an acute myocardial infarction (or acute MI). This is the name for the damage that occurs to the heart muscle if it isn't getting enough blood and oxygen because a branch of the coronoary arteries is blocked. During a heart attack, you may have pain or heaviness over your chest, and pain, numbness or tingling in your jaw and left arm.

heart attack. Once you get over the bout of unstable angina and your condition is stable, your doctor will talk to you about things you can do to make your health better and to stop your angina and

heart disease
You get heart disease when your heart isn't able to pump blood as well as it should. This can happen for a variety of reasons.

heart disease from getting worse.

Here's a list of some things your doctor might suggest.

Stop smoking. If you smoke, now is the time to stop. The more you smoke, the greater your risk of dying from heart disease. For more about quitting, see Smoking.
Lose weight. If you are obese or overweight, try to lose weight. It may help to see a dietitian. For more, see Obesity.
Eat a healthy diet. You should eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day, eat at least one serving of oily fish (such as salmon) every week, and cut back on how much fat and sugar you eat.
Exercise. Talk to your doctor about what kind of exercise and how much is safe for you.
Limit how much alcohol you drink. Talk to your doctor about how much is OK.
Ask about a self-help angina plan. This is a plan based on a workbook and a relaxation tape. If you just found out that you have angina, this plan can help you to feel better and have less anxiety and depression. A nurse helps you change the way you live and advises you about medications. Ask your doctor about this kind of plan.

Source:
Lewin RJP, Furze G, Robinson J, et al.
A randomised controlled trial of a self-management plan for patients with newly diagnosed angina.
British Journal of General Practice. 2002; 52: 194-201.

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Sources for the information on this page:

Lewin RJP, Furze G, Robinson J, et al.A randomised controlled trial of a self-management plan for patients with newly diagnosed angina.British Journal of General Practice. 2002; 52: 194-201.

This information was last updated on May 11, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

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