Heart Health
New thinking about stable heart disease
Manage chest pain with medications first, guidelines advise.
New guidelines for evaluating and treating stable heart disease emphasize that an invasive treatment may not be always be necessary. Developed by a joint task force of the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, and five other prominent medical societies, the guidelines were published on Dec. 18, 2012, in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
In the past, many people with stable heart disease were advised to undergo invasive treatments—bypass surgery or angioplasty—in the hopes that this would reduce their chance of suffering a heart attack in the future. The guidelines reflect new knowledge that this is generally not the case.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.