continued:

Angina treatment: Stents, drugs, lifestyle changes — What's best?

So which angina treatment is better — angioplasty and stenting or medications?

Your medical condition will determine whether having angioplasty and stenting or taking medications will work better for you. Talk to your doctor about which angina treatment is best for your situation. Consider this:

  • People who have angioplasty and stenting first may feel better quicker. For example, their chest pain may decrease quicker than those who just take medication. However, some studies suggest that after a few years those who only take medication may have the same level of pain relief (less chest pain) as those who had angioplasty and stenting.
  • People who take only medications for angina may not feel better as quickly, but medications require no recovery time and are less expensive than angioplasty and stenting. If you choose to take medications to treat your angina, it's important that you take them exactly as your doctor says so that you get the most benefit.

What if your angina treatment doesn't work?

If you try medication and lifestyle changes first, but they don't relieve your angina, angioplasty and stents may be another option. It might be reasonable to try more-conservative steps first — medication and lifestyle therapy — before considering a stent. Talk to your doctor if you're concerned that medications or stents aren't controlling your angina. Remember that with either treatment plan, lifestyle changes are important.

Previous page
(2 of 2)
References
  1. Papadakis MA, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2013. 52nd ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2013. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=1. Accessed March 6, 2013.
  2. Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191371208-2/0/1492/0.html#. Accessed March 6, 2013.
  3. What is angina? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/angina/. Accessed March 6, 2013.
  4. Fihn SD, et al. 2012 ACCF/AHA/ACP/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS guideline for the diagnosis and management of patients with stable ischemic heart disease: A report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines, and the American College of Physicians, American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Circulation. 2012;126:e354.
  5. Angioplasty and vascular stenting. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=angioplasty. Accessed March 7, 2013.
  6. Kannam JP, et al. Overview of the care of patients with stable ischemic heart disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 6, 2013.
  7. Simons M, et al. New therapies for angina pectoris. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 6, 2013.
  8. Levin T, et al. Medical therapy versus revascularization in the management of stable angina pectoris. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 6, 2013.
  9. Grogan MX (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 14, 2013.
HB00091 May 3, 2013

© 1998-2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

  • Reprints
  • Print

  • Share on:

  • Email

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger