Heavy meals can put a strain on your heart. You may find that you're especially prone to anginal discomfort after eating. Try to avoid large meals and rich foods that leave you feeling stuffed. Relax for a while after eating. If you often get angina after meals, your doctor may advise you to use nitroglycerin before eating.
Extra weight can also aggravate angina.
Many times a person's angina decreases or disappears after weight loss. Even if you aren't overweight, your doctor may recommend that you control the amount of fat in your daily diet. He or she may prescribe a diet or recommend one of the low-fat diet books available from your local American Heart Association. Check with your doctor about alcohol. Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol helps some people relax and may not be harmful for you.