How severe is the chest pain (angina), and will it respond to medication?
• In most cases, mild, ongoing, stable angina can be controlled using medication alone. • Ongoing, stable angina that does not respond well to medication is considered severe and may require further evaluation and treatment. • Unstable angina means that a heart attack may soon occur and that angioplasty or surgery may be needed. What are the results of testing (stress EKG test, stress echocardiography, thallium scan) so far? These tests measure how the heart responds to increased oxygen demand (stress test) and how effectively the heart pumps blood, which may help determine what treatment would be most effective. The following test results suggest that there is adequate blood flow to the heart muscle and that medication may be enough to control symptoms. Surgery or angioplasty with stenting may be an option but may offer no additional benefit over medication and may involve more risk. • Exercise stress test results are normal (or mildly abnormal), and the person can exercise well. • Th
