Patient discussions

Patients with unstable angina should be targeted for aggressive lifestyle and risk factor modification.

They may return to their usual activities, but are often advised to avoid strenuous exercise until non-invasive risk stratification (using either exercise or pharmacological stress, and echo or nuclear imaging modalities) is performed in the outpatient setting.

Smoking cessation should be emphasised and aggressive interventions including support groups and pharmacological (nicotine and non-nicotine-containing) products are recommended.[22]​ Similarly, diet and lipid-lowering therapy should be pursued.[146] Patients should be informed that blood pressure and diabetes management must be tightly controlled as appropriate.

Pharmacotherapy, lifestyle changes, and cardiac rehabilitation are well demonstrated to be beneficial and together are additive in reducing mortality.[1][147][148]​

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