What is stable angina?

Stable angina means that you can usually predict when your symptoms will happen. Symptoms happen when your heart is working harder and needs more oxygen than can be delivered through the narrowed arteries. You probably know what things cause your angina.

Things that can cause stable angina include:

• Doing strenuous exercise (especially if you typically don't exercise).
• Being exposed to cold temperatures.
• Having sudden, intense emotions, such as anger or fear.
• Smoking.
• Eating a heavy meal.

Having stable angina also means that you know how to relieve your symptoms with rest or nitroglycerin.

Your pattern of stable angina may stay the same for years.

Be aware of your symptoms

Tracking when and why your angina symptoms happen is one way to understand your angina better. It also helps you know what's normal for you.

If you know what's normal for you, it'll be easier to tell if you have a change in symptoms that means it's time to call for help.

Understanding your normal patterns may also help you make some changes that might prevent or reduce symptoms.

To track your symptoms, write down:

• The day and time of day you notice symptoms.
• What you were doing when you had them:
  • Exercising or doing a physical activity?
  • Eating a large meal?
  • Spending time outside in very cold weather?
  • Feeling a lot of stress?
  • Something else?
• How long the symptoms lasted.
• What you did to help your symptoms.

Work with your doctor

You and your doctor can use your symptoms tracking information to talk about whether you need any changes to your angina treatment. For example, you may decide to use medicine or to change your medicine. Or you may talk about other treatments you could try. Most people who have stable angina can control their symptoms by taking prescribed medicines, including nitroglycerin, when needed.

Balance activity and rest

Staying active and knowing when to rest during activity are also important.

Here are some tips that might help you manage your angina.

• Ease into your day.
• Warm up slowly before activity. Talk to your doctor about a level of activity that is safe for you.
• Give yourself time to rest and digest right after meals.
• Change the way you eat. Eat smaller meals more often during the day instead of two or three large meals.
• If an activity causes angina, stop and rest. Be active at a level that does not cause symptoms.