Which class of drugs is commonly used to treat angina by dilating blood vessels?

Nitrates are commonly used to treat angina by dilating blood vessels, which plays a crucial role in relieving the symptoms associated with this condition. They work by releasing nitric oxide, a potent vasodilator that relaxes the smooth muscles in the blood vessel walls. This helps to increase blood flow to the heart muscle, thereby reducing the heart's workload and oxygen demand during episodes of angina.

The effectiveness of nitrates in managing angina comes from their ability to specifically target both the coronary arteries and the systemic circulation, leading to a reduction in myocardial ischemia and alleviating the pain associated with angina attacks.

While other drug classes such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers can also be beneficial in managing angina, their mechanisms are different. Beta-blockers primarily decrease heart rate and contractility, while calcium channel blockers primarily prevent calcium entry into cardiac and smooth muscle cells, leading to vasodilation but through a different pathway than nitrates. ACE inhibitors focus more on blood pressure regulation and heart failure management rather than direct vasodilation for the relief of angina.