Living With Angina: Your Chest Pain Plan
Medical-Surgical · Cardiovascular
Angina is chest discomfort from too little blood reaching your heart muscle. Follow this plan for your usual angina; new or different pain needs emergency help.
Stop and sit
- For your usual angina, stop activity and sit down.
- Place 1 prescribed nitroglycerin tablet under your tongue.
- Let it dissolve. Do not chew or swallow it. Note the time.
Know when to call 911
- Call if pain is not relieved within 5 minutes after the first tablet.
- Call sooner if pain worsens. Call immediately for new or different pain.
- Do not drive yourself.
- While waiting, repeat every 5 minutes if prescribed, up to 3 tablets total. Follow the dispatcher's instructions.
Keep tablets safe
- Keep them in the original dark glass bottle. Close it tightly.
- Keep away from heat and moisture. Do not use a pill organizer.
- Replace by the expiration date. Keep the bottle nearby.
Check medicine safety
- Headache and dizziness are common. Stay seated and stand slowly.
- Never combine nitroglycerin with sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, avanafil, or riociguat.
- If you took one, do not take nitroglycerin for chest pain. Call 911 and tell the team what you took and when.
Protect your heart
- Stop smoking. Take your daily heart medicines.
- Follow your activity plan. Ask about cardiac rehab.
Call your provider today if you have
- A troublesome headache after chest pain has gone away
- Repeated mild dizziness without chest pain or fainting
- Questions about your medicines or need replacement tablets
Call 911 or your local emergency number if you have
- Pain not relieved within 5 minutes after the first tablet
- New, worsening, different, or resting chest pain
- Chest discomfort with cold sweat, nausea, trouble breathing, or pain in your arm, back, neck, or jaw
- Fainting or severe trouble breathing