Minor Injuries: Seeking Treatment in a Timely Manner

If you tell your doctor you want to stop taking medications for your angina, they'll likely tell you this is a bad idea. Angina is serious and can lead to a heart attack, and it's really important to take the medications that have been prescribed to you. What you can do, though, is start integrating some complementary therapies into your routine, alongside your medication. Over time, the combination of your meds and complementary therapies may bring your angina under better control, allowing your doctor to safely reduce your medication doses. Again, you should not reduce your dose or stop taking any medications unless your doctor tells you to. But you can pursue these healthy, complementary treatments.

Lose Weight

If you are overweight or obese, losing weight can reduce your angina symptoms, and it should be safe to lose weight while you take meds for your angina. As someone with a heart condition, you should focus on diet plans that are low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Diets that are high in fiber, protein, and unsaturated fats are good choices. Make sure you're eating fewer calories than you are burning. A slow weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week will add up, and before long, you'll be in a healthier weight range, which is better for your heart. Do be careful about adding exercise to your weight loss routine. Make sure any exercise you do is approved by your doctor first.

Stop Drinking and Smoking

If you smoke tobacco or drink alcohol, then you should aim to quit these habits. If you find that tough to do on you own, consider working with a therapist to get past some of the mental and emotional aspects of using these substances. Drinking and smoking both make angina a lot worse, and quitting these habits can make you less reliant on your medications down the road.

Meditate

Meditating may seem like a far-fetched way to manage your angina. However, meditation is known to ease stress, and stress is a big trigger that makes angina worse. If you have never meditated before, try downloading an app that guides you. You don't necessarily have to sit cross-legged on the floor with your hands folded to meditate. There are lots of guided meditations you can do anywhere and in any position.

If you're on angina medications, you need to keep taking them for as long as your doctor deems necessary. However, if you start using some of these complementary treatments, your doctor may eventually tell you that you can stop using medications or take a lower dose. Contact a doctor to learn more about available angina treatment options.