Nitroglycerine, a 100 year old explosive and heart medicine

In atherosclerosis, plaques reduce blood flow in the arteries. This decreases oxygen supply to the heart muscle causing chest pain (angina pectoris) and sometimes even myocardial infarction. Treatment with nitroglycerine provides NO, dilates the vessels, and increases blood flow. Thanks to this year’s Nobel Laureates we now understand how nitroglycerine, an important heart medicine, works. It acts as a NO donor, causes dilation of the blood vessels, increases oxygen supply and protects the heart from damage and cell death.

To cite this section
MLA style: Nitroglycerine, a 100 year old explosive and heart medicine. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Media AB 2019. Wed. 19 Jun 2019. <https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/1998/7549-nitroglycerine-a-100-year-old-explosive-and-heart-medicine/>

Back to top Back To Top Takes users back to the top of the page

WOMEN WHO CHANGED SCIENCE

Explore a new storytelling experience that celebrates and explores the contributions, careers and lives of the 19 women who have been awarded Nobel Prizes for their scientific achievements.
Quiz view hero image2

Explore prizes and laureates

Look for popular awards and laureates in different fields, and discover the history of the Nobel Prize.