Final answer:
Calcium channel blockers are effective in treating vasospastic angina, which involves coronary artery spasms reducing blood flow to the heart. They work by relaxing the arteries, improving blood flow and oxygen supply, and alleviating chest pain. Medications like amlodipine and diltiazem are examples of calcium channel blockers used for this purpose.
Step-by-step explanation:
A patient with angina has been given a prescription for a calcium channel blocker. The nurse knows that this class of drugs is used to treat which type of angina?
The calcium channel blockers are particularly effective in the treatment of vasospastic angina, also known as Prinzmetal's angina or variant angina. Vasospastic angina occurs when the coronary arteries spasm and reduce blood flow to the heart muscle, even at rest or without the presence of significant atherosclerosis.
Calcium channel blockers, such as amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine, nifedipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, and verapamil, work by relaxing the smooth muscle cells in the arterial walls, especially in the coronary arteries. This relaxation leads to the dilation of the arteries, which improves blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart muscle, thus alleviating the pain associated with angina. These medications are also utilized in treating other conditions, such as high blood pressure and certain types of arrhythmias.