Some blockages are emergencies and must be treated right away. When angina is caused by coronary artery disease, treatment involves following a healthy lifestyle. Often the symptoms of angina can be controlled by medication. Several types of medication are available, including beta blockers, nitrates, and calcium channel blockers. Your health care provider will determine which type is right for you based on your test results and any other medical problems you may have.
Balloon angioplasty is a simpler procedure than coronary bypass surgery.
A tube with a balloon tip is placed in your artery. The balloon is inflated where the artery is blocked. This expands the artery enough to let blood flow normally. If you have this surgery, you may need only a brief hospital stay of a day or two. In coronary bypass graft surgery, the blocked areas of coronary artery are bypassed with grafts of arteries taken from the chest, abdomen, or arm or veins from the leg.