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Roper St. Francis Heart & Vascular Center

 

  
Roper Hospital Accredited Chest Pain Center

Heart Patients with Chest Pain

If you are a known heart patient and do not take an impotence drug, follow your doctor's instructions in regards to taking aspirin and nitroglycerin. If you do not have relief after the prescribed doses CALL 911.

Medications

    Take your prescribed medications exactly as instructed. Do not stop taking any prescribed medications without consulting your doctor.
    There can be possible drug interactions between your prescribed medications an over-the-counter medications, so do not take any over-the-counter medications without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.
    If you are taking nitroglycerin medication you should not take drugs like Viagra. Some drugs used to treat certain sexual or impotence problems may interact with your nitroglycerin. Ask your caregiver if any of your medications contain nitroglycerin.

What to do if you have chest pain:

    Stop the activity
    Sit or lie down with upper body elevated
    Breathe deeply and slowly to relax
    Take on dose of nitroglycerin every 5 minutes until relief is obtained. Do not take more than 3 tablets/doses in 15 minutes. If your chest pain is not relieved after 3 nitroglycerin tablets, call 911.

Activities

    Regular activity is good for you, as long as it does not cause chest pain. Talk to your doctor about an exercise program.
    You may have sex when you feel ready, unless

Special Care

    Discuss driving with your doctor
    No smoking of any form. Even second hand smoke narrows your arteries your doctor tells you not to. The stress placed on the heart during sex is similar to climbing 2 flights of stairs.
    Try to avoid situations that make your tense or angry
    Discuss alcohol consumption with your doctor

Signs to report

    Call your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
    Tightness, squeezing, aching in chest or indigestion Pain or discomfort in neck, jaw, upper back or arm
    Shortness of breath, sweating, nausea or unexplained fatigue

Follow up

Schedule and keep follow-up appointments with your doctor(s) Consider Smoking Cessation classes if you are a current smoker

 


HEART AND VASCULAR
What to Expect
What to Know
Risk Factors
Avoid a Heart Attack
Heart Attack Symptoms
Heart Attack Risk Factors
Heart Patients with Chest Pain


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