Which drug is often used to relieve angina?

Nitroglycerin is commonly used to relieve angina because it is a potent vasodilator that works by relaxing and widening blood vessels, which decreases the amount of work the heart has to do and increases the blood flow to the heart muscle. Angina occurs when the heart muscle does not get enough oxygen due to reduced blood flow, and by using nitroglycerin, patients experience relief from the chest pain associated with angina attacks almost immediately.

Other options serve different purposes; for instance, aspirin is used primarily for its antiplatelet effects to prevent clot formation but does not directly alleviate angina symptoms. Metoprolol, a beta-blocker, is employed to decrease heart rate and myocardial oxygen demand over time but is not a rapid relief drug for angina. Warfarin, an anticoagulant, is used to prevent blood clots and is not indicated for the immediate relief of angina. Thus, among the choices presented, nitroglycerin is the drug specifically intended for the quick relief of angina symptoms.