It is very easy to confuse symptoms of chest pain or angina with those of a heart attack. However, angina can come on suddenly due to many different reasons including gas, stress, indigestion or even coughing/chest congestion. In any case, you should not ignore chest pain and must look at it as a sign that your heart needs some looking after. Below are some important home remedies to relieve chest pain:
1. Keep cholesterol and triglycerides in check
Frequent episodes of chest pain indicate that you have excess fatty deposits in the arteries that may be blocking the blood flow to the heart. So do try to keep your cholesterol levels in check. Many medicines are available for the purpose. Additionally, as part of home remedies to relieve and prevent chest pain, you must eat more fiber, reduce your intake of trans fats and saturated fats and also limit intake of red meat. Daily exercise is also a must to relieve ichest pain due to gas, as well as stress. Read about remedies to lower cholesterol and triglycerides here.
2. Garlic
Take one clove of raw garlic every day before your meals. Garlic is very good for the heart and helps strengthen it.
3. Olive oil
When you feel chest pain coming on, drink a small cup of olive oil. Olive oil relieves gas as well as chest pain caused by gallstones. Cooking meals in olive oil is especially beneficial for angina patients as it is known to contain heart healthy fats and essential fatty acids.
4. Supplements for angina
Many supplements, when take daily, can prevent chest pain episodes:
- L-lysine-Two pills per day, morning and evening, 1000 mg each
- L-proline- Two pills per day, morning and evening, 500 mg each
- Vitamin C- 1000 mg each-two pills per day
- Vitamin E- 800 IU once a day
- COQ10
- Zinc
- Selenium-200 mcg per day
Do not take too much of calcium as it is known to cause chest pain. Talk to your doctor to get your facts straight.
5. Herbs for angina
Many herbal supplements can relieve tightness in the chest: Hawthorne, Goldenseal, Echinacea, Grapefruit seed extract, Olive leaf extract, Ginger, Cayenne, Gingko etc are some of the important herbs for preventing angina.
6. Cayenne pepper
At the first sign of chest tightness or pain, take a teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder (or pill) for quick relief. This is a wonderful home remedy for chest pain caused y stress. Like cayenne pepper, you can also turn to Tabasco sauce for relieving chest pain. Simply place a few drops of Tabasco sauce under the tongue for preventing chest pain.
7. Apple cider vinegar
Take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar three times a day for quick relief from chest pain and chest tightness. This is a wonderful remedy that has tons of other health benefits.
8. Cranberry supplements
For chest pain first aid take two cranberry soft gels. The tightness and pain will go away in minutes.
9. Lugol’s Iodine
Take 8-10 drops of 5% Lugol’s Iodine to stop symptoms of angina such as chest tightness, pain and shortness of breath. Iodine was a traditional remedy during the World War and it was prescribed for all kinds of heart issues.
10. Eat more fiber
Fiber prevents accumulation of plaque in the arteries and also prevents constipation which is often linked to chest pain. High fiber foods include beans, legumes, fruits, vegetables etc.
11. Go vegetarian
Diet alone can reduce cholesterol by 20% and lower your risk of heart attacks by 25%. A low fat, meat free diet is the best way of preventing angina.
12. Exercise later during the day
Angina patients must avoid exercising during the day time as the stress hormones like cortisol and norepinephrine rise during nighttime and peak during the morning hours. Instead of sprinting in the morning, try and exercise during the latter half of the day to prevent stressing the heart. Always follow your doctor’s advice about exercise. Also avoid heavy weights and strength training which tend to increase blood flow to the heart suddenly. Never exercise following a heavy meal.
13. Maintain healthy weight
Obese and overweight people are more likely to have chest pains and angina attacks due to elevated cholesterol levels. So maintain a healthy weight as far as possible.
14. Quit smoking
Smoking even a single cigarette can reduce supply of oxygen to the heart and cause chest pains.
15. Take Aspirin
It is a fact that taking Aspirin can reduce risk of heart attacks by 28%. Just one tablet of 80 mg is sufficient and you must avoid doses higher than this as it can cause bleeding.
16. Combat stress
People with stressful lives are more likely to experience chest pains. Get some calm in your life by meditating or doing yoga.
We hope these home remedies help prevent tightness in the chest caused by stress, gas or other health issues. If chest pain increases steadily despite taking above precautions, seek medical help immediately.