title: Nitrates as an integral part of optimal medical therapy and cardiac rehabilitation for stable angina: review of current concepts and therapeutics.
abstract: The goals of optimal medical therapy in patients with stable angina pectoris are to reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality and future cardiovascular events, improve exercise capacity, and enhance quality of life. Whereas myocardial revascularization is frequently employed in the management of patients with stable angina, a variety of pharmacologic interventions are recommended as part of optimal medical management. The use of short- and rapidly-acting nitrates (eg, sublingual nitroglycerin spray and tablets) is at the core of the therapeutic armamentarium and should be integrated into optimal medical therapy for stable angina along with exercise therapy. The potential clinical implications from these observations are that prophylactic sublingual nitrates, when combined with cardiac rehabilitation, may allow the patient with angina to exercise to a greater functional capacity than without sublingual nitrates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Samuel S. Stratton VA Medical Center and Albany Medical Center, 113 Holland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208, USA. william.boden@va.gov
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Boden
authors.forename: Aloke V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Finn
authors.forename: Dharmesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: W Frank
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Peacock
authors.forename: Udho
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Thadani
authors.forename: Franklin H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
mesh_terms: D060050:Angina, Stable / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D000075202:Contraindications; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin