What is the primary purpose of antianginal agents?

The primary purpose of antianginal agents is to alleviate or prevent angina pectoris. Angina pectoris refers to the chest pain or discomfort that can occur when the heart muscle doesn't receive enough oxygen-rich blood, often resulting from coronary artery disease. Antianginal agents work by improving blood flow to the heart, reducing the heart's oxygen demand, or both, which helps relieve the symptoms of angina. This includes medications such as nitrates, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers, each functioning in different mechanisms to ensure that the heart receives enough oxygen to perform effectively during physical exertion or stress.

The other options do not accurately represent the primary purpose of these agents. While maintaining optimal blood pressure is important in cardiovascular health, that is not the specific goal of antianginal medications. Improving digestion and increasing heart rate are unrelated to the function of antianginal agents and therefore are not relevant to their primary purpose in treating angina.