Keep your cholesterol levels within normal range Engage in regular physical activity. Check with your doctor to see which type of exercise is best for you. Reduce the amount of stress in your life. Medications are often used to treat the symptoms of coronary heart disease. Nitroglycerin is one type of nitrate medication that is often prescribed to treat coronary artery disease.
Nitrates dilate the arteries that supply the heart with blood.
In doing so, they increase the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart itself. Nitrates also reduce the workload of the heart by decreasing the amount of blood returning to the heart for pumping to the rest of the body. Atenolol and metopropal are two commonly prescribed beta-blocker medications. Beta-blockers slow the heart rate and decrease the force needed to contract the heart muscle. In doing so, beta-blockers reduce the workload of the heart.