1 You'll need to avoid strenuous activities, but you may be able to continue normal daily activities, such as going to work. 2  Talk to your doctor about an appropriate level of activity for you. 3  Follow a balanced diet.
Nitroglycerin works by causing your veins to expand or dilate, known as venodilation. It also works on dilating the coronary arteries, contributing to the relief of angina.
To make sure you can safely use nitroglycerin, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions: 1  congestive heart failure; 2  a history of heart attack, stroke, or head injury; 3  low blood pressure; 4  glaucoma; or. 5  anemia (lack of red blood cells).