The outlook for people with angina is quite good. With treatment, most people can lead a normal or near normal life.

Follow the treatment prescribed by your doctor. In addition, follow these guidelines:

• Begin a regular exercise program under your doctor's supervision.
• If you are overweight, begin a weight-loss program under the supervision of your doctor or a dietitian.
• Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and avoid foods high in cholesterol and saturated fat.
• Have your blood pressure checked regularly. High blood pressure increases your risk for heart disease.
• Try to avoid emotional upset and stressful situations.
• Always carry your medicine with you.
• Take nitroglycerin if stopping an activity doesn't help your pain, or if the pain occurs when you are resting. It may be more comfortable to take it while sitting in a chair. Some people help prevent symptoms by taking nitroglycerin before any activity that usually causes angina.

See your doctor if the angina becomes worse or occurs more often. Sometimes it's hard to tell a severe attack of angina from the beginning of a true heart attack.

Call your doctor or 911 or go to a hospital emergency room right away if:

• You have chest discomfort with lightheadedness.
• You are sweating a lot or having trouble breathing during an attack of angina.
• You have chest discomfort (pressure, fullness, squeezing, or pain) that lasts more than 10 minutes or goes away and comes back.
• You still have pain after taking 3 nitroglycerin tablets 5 minutes apart.