An angiogram helps the cardiologist diagnose the presence and severity of heart disease. Then he or she may decide to do another procedure (angioplasty) to help open your blood vessels to improve the blood flow to your heart or insert a stent to hold the artery open.

Follow your discharge instructions. A general guideline for sexual activity is that if you have had an interventional procedure and a heart attack, you may resume sexual activity as soon as you are comfortable enough to tolerate activity equal to climbing one to two flights of stairs.

Call your doctor if your site becomes swollen, red, painful, starts to drain, or if you have a fever.

Lie down, apply pressure slightly above the puncture sight and call 911.

You can wash the site right away. A mild antibacterial soap is best. Avoid a bath, whirlpool bath, hot tub or swimming as directed on your discharge instructions. It is OK to shower.

These medicines prevent the platelets in your blood from sticking to irregular surfaces on your coronary arteries. Your cardiologist may prescribe both medicines for several weeks or months after your procedure. Continue to take your prescribed aspirin every day.

Angina is often relieved by rest and nitroglycerin. Heart attack pain usually remains after 15 minutes of resting. A nitroglycerin tablet only provides temporary or incomplete relief. If the pain is relieved, it usually returns.