Treatment
- nitrates - can reduce chest pain
- calcium channel blockers - specifically nifedipine and diltiazem can be effective.
- beta blockers - also work.
- aminophylline - may work by inhibiting adenosine receptors.
- estrogen - may work in women.
- L-Arginine - increases release of NO at vascular level, thus leading to vasodilatory effect
Even if it is a serious medical condition, cardiac syndrome X is a curable disease which very seldom causes a heart attack or puts at risk the life of the patient. The treatment consists in drugs, mainly to relieve chest pain, but a very important part of the treatment is regularly visiting the doctor and repeating the tests to make sure the condition was taken care of in full. The first step in cardiac syndrome X is the administration of nitrates which relieve the chest pain. They are used because of their ability to relax the muscles of the heart and blood vessels. However, they prove to be inefficient in as much as half of the patients. Alternative treatments may consist from calcium channel blockers or beta blockers which reduces chest pain by relaxing the muscle cells lining the artery and improving blood flow to the heart while lowering blood pressure Aminophylline may also work, as well as estrogen can be effective in women.
Also, a change in lifestyle is highly recommended in order to cure and to prevent syndrome X. Patients should start following healthier diets which are low in saturated fats, along with regular physical activities. However, any patient with a heart disease condition should first seek for a medical opinion before starting exercising. Quitting smoking is also highly recommended.
Read more about this topic: Cardiac Syndrome X
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