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Cardiac
Medications Glossary
View the Cardiac Glossary,
Cardiac Medications Glossary,
and
Cardiac and Diagnostic Procedure Glossary to better understand terms
related to the health of your heart.
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Nitroglycerin
A drug (a vasodilator) that relaxes blood vessels and increases the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart while reducing its workload. It’s prescribed to patients who can’t tolerate ACE inhibitors (another type of medicine that relaxes the blood vessels). "Nitro" is used to treat acute chest pain (angina), in which case it is prescribed as quick-dissolving pills to be placed under the tongue when needed. It can also be prescribed as a routine medication, in which case it is available as slower-release pills, creams or patches. When the blood vessels dilate, blood flow to the tissues increases. This can relieve chest pain. |