Which conditions are primarily treated with nitroglycerin?

Nitroglycerin is primarily used for conditions related to the heart, particularly those that involve decreased blood flow or increased demand for oxygen by the heart muscle. Angina and acute coronary syndrome are both conditions characterized by ischemic heart disease, where the heart doesn't receive enough oxygen-rich blood.

In the case of angina, nitroglycerin acts as a vasodilator. It relaxes and widens blood vessels, which lowers the amount of work the heart has to do and reduces oxygen demand. This alleviates the chest pain associated with angina episodes. Similarly, for acute coronary syndrome—which includes conditions such as unstable angina and myocardial infarction—nitroglycerin can help improve blood flow to heart muscle and relieve pain while also limiting damage to the heart during an event.

Other choices involve conditions that do not primarily benefit from nitroglycerin. Heart failure and pneumonia, for instance, are treated with different classes of medications tailored to improve heart function and manage respiratory infections, respectively. Likewise, hypertension and arrhythmias are commonly managed with medications that are more suited to address blood pressure regulation and heartbeat stabilization. Lastly, atrial fibrillation and stroke require treatments aimed at controlling heart rhythm and managing blood clots, rather than the vas