1 You'll need to avoid strenuous activities, but you may be able to continue normal daily activities, such as going to work. 2  Talk to your doctor about an appropriate level of activity for you. 3  Follow a balanced diet.
Nitroglycerin works by causing your veins to expand or dilate, known as venodilation. It also works on dilating the coronary arteries, contributing to the relief of angina.
The principal action of nitroglycerin is vasodilation (widening of the blood vessels). At low doses, nitroglycerin will dilate veins more than arteries, thereby reducing preload; this is thought to be its primary mechanism of action. But at higher doses, it also dilates arteries, thereby reducing afterload. It is also a potent antihypertensive agent.