There are many things that may trigger angina, and they include; eating a large meal, getting anxious, angry or very excited, and walking outside when it is cold or windy. All these things are basically putting stress on the body. Whether it is the increase of demands on the digestive system or the muscles (i.e. exercise, therefore increasing heart rate) they are all categorised as physiological stress. .
There are many ways in which people can improve their lifestyle in order to prevent angina. These include such things as overall lifestyle changes, such as walking or cycling as a form of transportation, balancing your diet so that energy intake is similar to energy expenditure. Preventative measures can range from simple things such as not adding salt to your food at the table or avoiding stress, to, attaining your ideal body weight. However, if you are unfortunate enough to suffer from angina, the best thing that can be prescribed is exercise.
It has been suggested that exercise sufferers can counteract the genetic risk of stiff arteries or hardening of the arteries, which can have an effect on raising blood pressure. (Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2002) It is also suggested that similar exercise can assist in the treatment of angina and cardiac health in general. .
Prescribed exercise for angina sufferers often includes rhythmic activities of moderate intensity, such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming. The latter being effective as the patient is not put under as much physical strain as their body weight is reduced when in the water. Resistance training is not something that would be prescribed by a doctor or GP, but low intensity resistance training is possible, although would do little to aid the symptoms of angina and could possibly trigger a painful attack. If the patient desires to do resistance training, it is recommended that they begin with using things such as ankle and wrist weights (while walking perhaps) and only build up to actual lifting when cleared to do so by a medical professional.
