Advances in Mental Health

If you are diagnosed with angina, your doctor will likely prescribe one or more medications to get your symptoms under closer control. Beta blockers, nitrates, and calcium channel blockers are all quite effective, and if your doctor prescribes them, you should take them as advised. However, it would be a mistake to rely on medications alone to treat your angina. Usually, angina is brought on, at least in part, by lifestyle factors. So, there are also some lifestyle changes you should make and some natural treatments you should try alongside medication in order to bring your angina under closer control.

Exercise

Exercise can help lower your blood pressure, promote weight loss, and raise your good cholesterol levels, all of which can help reduce your angina symptoms. As someone with diagnosed angina, it is a good idea to enroll with a personal trainer. They can guide you through an exercise routine that is effective but safe for your condition. Working with a personal trainer also keeps you motivated to exercise, which is the main struggle for most people.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture may sound like a strange treatment for angina, but it makes more sense when you consider that it works indirectly. Stress is a major contributor to angina. Acupuncture is a great stress reliever. If you have a session even once a month, your stress levels should remain lower, and you may see your angina symptoms start to subside.

Vegetarian Diet

Adopting a vegetarian diet, or a nearly vegetarian diet, can be a very good thing when you have angina. Saturated fat and cholesterol can contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries. Meat is a key source of both of these nutrients, so eliminating meat can help reduce your intake. If going full vegetarian is intimidating, consider eating vegetarian during the week and only splurging to eat meat once or twice on the weekends.

Fish Oil Supplements

Fish oil is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help lower your levels of bad cholesterol, increase your levels of good cholesterol, and prevent the arterial plaque buildup that contributes to angina. Take fish oil capsules once per day, or as directed by your doctor.

These treatments are not intended to be a replacement for any meds your doctor has prescribed for angina. However, if you stick with them, you and your doctor may find that you become less dependent on medications over time. Contact your doctor to learn more about angina treatments.