People who suffer from the sudden, sharp chest pains called angina pectoris usually carry nitroglycerin pills or amyl nitrite for quick, dramatic relief. The frightening spasms commonly occur in long-standing heart disease patients when they exercise or are exposed to cold weather. But what is the victim to do if the pain strikes and he has forgotten his pill? A report in last week's New England Journal of Medicine suggests an effective emergency treatment: when an attack takes place, hold the nose, close the mouth and blow.
Named the Valsalva maneuver, after the 17th century Italian anatomist who described it,...
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