What does the chest pain associated with CAD typically improve with?

The chest pain associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) typically improves with rest or the use of nitroglycerin. This is because CAD leads to a reduction in blood flow to the heart muscle, often causing angina pectoris — a type of chest pain. When a person rests, their heart requires less oxygen because it is working less, which can relieve the strain on the heart muscle.

Nitroglycerin is a vasodilator, meaning it helps to widen blood vessels, improving blood flow and reducing the workload on the heart. This mechanism effectively alleviates the symptoms of angina by enhancing oxygen delivery to the heart muscle, minimizing pain during episodes of angina.

In contrast, physical activity is likely to exacerbate angina due to the increased demand for oxygen, while heat therapy and increased hydration do not specifically address the underlying pathophysiology of CAD and are unlikely to provide relief from chest pain associated with this condition.