1
The Cardiovascular Drugs Study
Guide Notes
Antianginal Drugs
Angina Pectoris (chest pain)
When the supply of oxygen and nutrients in the blood is
insufficient to meet the demands of the heart, the heart muscle
“aches.”
The heart requires a large supply of oxygen to meet the
demands placed on it.
Ischemia
Ischemia
Poor blood supply to an
organ Ischemic heart disease
Poor blood supply to the heart muscle
Atherosclerosis
Coronary artery
disease Myocardial
infarction
Necrosis, or death, of cardiac tissue
Disabling or fatal
Type of angina
Chronic stable angina (also called
classic
or
effort
angina
) Unstable angina (also called
preinfarction
angina
) Vasospastic angina (also called
Prinzmetal
or
variant angina
)
Goal of medical management
•Minimize the frequency, decrease the durations and
intensity of angina attacks
•Improve functional capacity with few adverse effects
•Prevent or delay MI
A person who is mowing the lawn on a hot Saturday afternoon begins
to notice chest pain. What should this person’s first action be?
A. Take a nitroglycerin tablet.
B. Stop mowing and sit or lie down.
C. Go inside the house to cool off and get a drink of water.
D. Call 911.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: At the first sign of chest pain, the person should stop all
activity and sit or lie down before taking the nitroglycerin tablet.
