A question in another thread here led me to open this new topic about Nitro.
I've used it for years (unfortunately) so not only do I have first hand knowledge, but can perhaps offer up a few answers to some questions. I know a lot of others here are in the same boat!~So Please! Don't hesitate to join in the conversation here. 
First and foremost, if you have been given nitro and told to use it for chest pain/discomfort for possible angina then that is what you do!
At the first sign of this chest pain, you take 1 tab. sublingually (under the tongue) and wait 5 minutes. If the tablet is working, you will immediately (if they are still good) start feeling a slight tingling sensation under your tongue. Then a strange sort of feeling in your head like the blood is rushing there. Almost immediately after that many will find themselves with a really bad headache due to the arteries dilating, or widening~that will resolve with time, or later on with acetaminophen tablet.
If this does not help you after the first tablet of Nitro. Take another one after that first 5 minutes has elapsed. If you continue with the angina/chest pain, or discomfort, then you take a 3rd Nitro and call 911!! You could be having a Heart Attack and this is not a time for speculation-you just get to the Emergency Room!!
So here is the Nitro protocol; 1 tab. every 5 min.'s X's 3. Call 911 if there is still ongoing pain or discomfort!! Unless your Dr. has given you different information/or instructions!
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
For people that also have GERD or Asthma, these things can also mimic the chest tightening, or even arm pain that feels like angina.
Guess What? If you have known angina, you still take the nitro! It won't hurt you and it some cases if it's caused by your bronchioles spasming, or esophageal spasming, it may also help that as well. But you never want to take a chance and guess that it's something else, and then not take the nitro.
I have all three of the above, and I've taken the nitro and found out it was GERD, or asthma later, but I never wanted to take the chance in case it was the angina.
Be Well. Hugs, Teri 
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
I have all of the above and then some as you know Teri. Here's another question for you. What if you get the shoulder, arm, neck pain thing? I rarely get the chest pain. Once in a while I get pain that my asthma inhaler relieves but that is when exercising I've had that for years since I was diagnosed in 2000 with asthma.
Confused in Wisconsin.
Confused in Wisconsin.
I spoke with my new cardiologist and he said there were 3 things for which nitro could be an effective treatment: CAD (of course), Pulmonary Hypertension and esophogeal spasms.
He didn't mention athsma, but I see how it could help, being a vasodilator. I spose that PH could be related to or interact with the athsma.
I'm not sure about the upper torso pain and arm, Barb. But if the inhaler helps..well, maybe it's a result of insufficient oxygenation to that area of the body. I'm sure no doctor, so I really don't know...but it kinda seems logical...I think.
Searching thru Google (breifly) led me to several sites that appear to mention PH and asthma together. But I didn't find anything that came out and stated anything concrete.
Ray
ChevyAsylum.com
He didn't mention athsma, but I see how it could help, being a vasodilator. I spose that PH could be related to or interact with the athsma.
I'm not sure about the upper torso pain and arm, Barb. But if the inhaler helps..well, maybe it's a result of insufficient oxygenation to that area of the body. I'm sure no doctor, so I really don't know...but it kinda seems logical...I think.
Searching thru Google (breifly) led me to several sites that appear to mention PH and asthma together. But I didn't find anything that came out and stated anything concrete.
Ray
ChevyAsylum.com
Barb, I don't usually get any chest 'pain' either. What I do get is a feeling that there is a tightness in the middle of my chest/sternum and sometimes feels as if it takes my breath away. Uncomfortable feeling?, but no actual pain. I get the arm, shoulder and even back pain.
When I was hospitalized a few wks. ago and cathed, prior to the cath and the helicopter ride was my very time that I really ever had what you would call crushing chest pain! Hope I never have that one again. 
So with all that said, that is when I'd be taking the nitro, especially with the arm and shoulder involvement-classic symptoms!
Hugs, Teri
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
PS Let the Doctor's make the diagnosis!
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
Nitro was discovered to be helpful to angina sufferers by accident. As you must all know Nitro is an explosive and it was found that it helped angina sufferers when someone working in a lab and who suffered from angina noticed they had relief whenever they inhaled the fumes from the nitro.
Another terrible symptom for some users of the nitrate group of tablets is severe head aches and heavy nose bleeds. In the worst cases it can cause bleeding from the lungs. I am one of those unfortunates and as such I take captopril instead. I use the nitro spray which acts quicker into the blood stream than do the tablets.
You are correct though Barb some have chest pain and a feeling like there is a lump in the throat. some also experience a sensation which travels into the jaw as well.
God bless,
Gordon and Michelle
Another terrible symptom for some users of the nitrate group of tablets is severe head aches and heavy nose bleeds. In the worst cases it can cause bleeding from the lungs. I am one of those unfortunates and as such I take captopril instead. I use the nitro spray which acts quicker into the blood stream than do the tablets.
You are correct though Barb some have chest pain and a feeling like there is a lump in the throat. some also experience a sensation which travels into the jaw as well.
God bless,
Gordon and Michelle
When you feel you have had enough of the world and what it throws.
Just tune into the Archers on the BBC radio 4 and just listen :- Sorry no news until I have had the chance to catch up with the serial.
Thanks Gordon!
I'd never heard the beginnings of the nitro story and how it came about, so that was interesting!
Hugs, Teri
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
"Because he is he and I am I."......E. V. Lucas
Hi all, thanks for your responses. Do any of you have a kind of pressure feeling on your chest when laying down? I feel like I can't breath. I've had to take my inhaler and nitro for that. It helps for a while but seems to come back. I couldn't walk yesterday. It took me forever to get back home because my inhaler wasn't working and I was afraid to take the nitro after what it made me feel like Friday night. I did take one when I got home and in my chair. Only made it a few blocks tonight. This really sucks because I really had my endurance up there for walking. I go next week to have my stress test done again. I think I will call them again and let them know all the problems I'm having so maybe he'll do the nuclear study also. I want them to figure out what is wrong with my heart so they can go onto figuring out what is wrong with my esophagus. The Physicians assistant I saw today said the gastroenterologist won't touch me until they say my heart is ok. Which I guess I can understand. This is all really frustrating because at the present time I am trying to convince my work to hire me on full time so insurance is cheaper and can maybe quit my night job. I have been waiting 5 years for the other lady to quit so I could do this but they have to submit a proposal to city council to vote on. Some people are against it because it will cost the city more for my insurance, but at least I have my boss on my side. Talk to you all later. Barb
Hey Ray what is PH stand for?
PH stands for Pulmonary Hypertension....here's a website that does a pretty good job of explaining it:
http://www.phassociation.org/Learn/What-is-PH/
This is from the first paragraph on that page:
"Pulmonary hypertension is a rare blood vessel disorder of the lung in which the pressure in the pulmonary artery (the blood vessel that leads from the heart to the lungs) rises above normal levels and may become life threatening."
Hope that helps (hth)
Ray
Ray
ChevyAsylum.com
http://www.phassociation.org/Learn/What-is-PH/
This is from the first paragraph on that page:
"Pulmonary hypertension is a rare blood vessel disorder of the lung in which the pressure in the pulmonary artery (the blood vessel that leads from the heart to the lungs) rises above normal levels and may become life threatening."
Hope that helps (hth)
Ray
Ray
ChevyAsylum.com
That doesn't sound too fun. Hope I don't have that too. Barb
What you describe Barb is exactly the same thing that I go through. When going to bed it is better to make sure you are raised on the pillow and this will help you when sleeping. In my case the arteries are severely diseased and I have only the LAD and a veinal graft supplying any blood to the heart muscle at all. I do return for more tests soon and maybe if I am lucky they will be able to do something for me. The likelyhood though is very low indeed. Doctors around the world are presently experimenting with various treatments for patients who like me are very difficult to treat if treatment is possible at all, other than tablets to help me go on. One form of treatment being offered here in the UK is a treatment called Percutanious myocardial revascularisation, another is the fitting of an internal TENS machine connected to the nerve on the Spinal cord. The latter treatment offering pain relief only. The worst thing about heart disease is that the symptoms can vary so much in people and the differences are unique to each person.
God Bless,
Gordon and Michelle
God Bless,
Gordon and Michelle
When you feel you have had enough of the world and what it throws.
Just tune into the Archers on the BBC radio 4 and just listen :- Sorry no news until I have had the chance to catch up with the serial.