skip to main content
For New Patients
Healtheuniversity > English > Cardiac College > Get Active > Aerobic Exercise > How to Deal With Angina During Exercise

How to Deal With Angina During Exercise

Slow your exercise pace for 1 minute.  If angina goes away, continue exercising at the slower pace for 5 minutes. Continue on if you have no angina. If angina does not go away, stop exercising, sit down and wait 1 minute. If agina does not go away, sit down and take your Nitroglycerine as prescribed by your doctor. Rest for 5 minutes. If angina does not go away, take a second Nitroglycerine and rest for 5 minutes. If angina does not go away, take a third Nitroglycerine and rest for 5 minutes.  If angina does not go away after your third Nitroglycerine, call 911 for help. Important! If angina goes away after taking Nitroglycerine, do not return to your exercise that day. You may need to call your doctor.

If you feel the signs of angina while you are doing exercise:

Slow your exercise pace for 1 minute.

  • If angina goes away, continue exercising at the slower pace for 5 minutes. Continue on if you have no angina.
  • If angina does not go away, stop exercising, sit down and wait 1 minute.
    1. If agina does not go away, sit down and take your Nitroglycerine as prescribed by your doctor. Rest for 5 minutes.
    2. If angina does not go away, take a second Nitroglycerine and rest for 5 minutes.
    3. If angina does not go away, take a third Nitroglycerine and rest for 5 minutes.
    4. If angina does not go away after your third Nitroglycerine, call 911 for help.
    5. Important! If angina goes away after taking Nitroglycerine, do not return to your exercise that day. You may need to call your doctor.
Last Reviewed: