During stable angina, which self-administered medication is used for relief?

• A. Nitroglycerin
• B. Antibiotic
• C. Pepto-Bismol
• D. Insulin

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that stable angina is relieved promptly by a fast-acting nitrate. Nitroglycerin works quickly to relax vascular smooth muscle, mainly causing venodilation. This lowers the amount of blood returning to the heart (preload), which reduces the heart’s oxygen demand. With the heart needing less oxygen, the pain of angina typically subsides. Its sublingual form is designed for rapid onset, so a patient can use it right when symptoms begin, and may repeat if the pain continues, though they should seek further care if it doesn’t improve. It’s important to be cautious about very low blood pressure or concurrent use of certain medicines (like some erectile dysfunction drugs) because combining them with nitroglycerin can cause dangerous drops in blood pressure.

Other options listed don’t address the heart’s oxygen balance in the way nitroglycerin does: antibiotics treat infections, Pepto-Bismol treats GI discomfort, and insulin manages blood sugar. None of these relieve an angina episode.