Nitroglycerin: Explosive Heart Medication

Nitroglycerin, discovered by Asconio Sobrero in 1847, is a highly explosive compound with unique properties. Despite its instability, Alfred Nobel stabilized it to create dynamite. Interestingly, nitroglycerin also has medical applications, particularly in treating heart conditions by dilating blood vessels. Initially used in homeopathy, its effectiveness for heart issues was recognized by the 1880s. The compound works by converting to nitric oxide in the body, which relaxes blood vessels and lowers blood pressure.

What medicinal use was first attempted with nitroglycerin?

What mechanism does the body use to convert nitroglycerin for its effects?