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Heart
Disease And Medications
Heart
Disease And Medications
Sometimes, medications may be needed
to help prevent or control coronary heart disease
(CHD) and so reduce the risk of a first or repeat
heart attack. But, if medications are needed, lifestyle
changes still must be undertaken.
If prescribed, take medications as
directed by your health care provider.
Drugs used
to treat CHD include:
Aspirin
– Aspirin helps to lower the risk of a heart
attack for those who have already had one. It also
helps to keep arteries open in those who have had
a previous heart bypass or other artery-opening procedure
such as coronary angioplasty.
Because of its risks, aspirin is not approved by
the Food and Drug Administration for preventing heart
attacks in healthy individuals. It may be harmful
for some persons, especially those with no risk of
heart disease. Patients must be assessed carefully
to make sure the benefits of taking aspirin outweigh
the risks. Talk to your doctor about whether taking
aspirin is right for you.
Digitalis
– makes the heart contract harder and is used
when the heart's pumping function has been weakened;
it also slows some fast heart rhythms.
ACE (angiotensin converting
enzyme) inhibitor – stops the
production of a chemical that makes blood vessels narrow
and is used to help control high blood pressure and
for damaged heart muscle. It may be prescribed after
a heart attack to help the heart pump blood better.
It is also used for persons with heart failure, a condition
in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to
supply the body's needs.
Beta blocker
– slows the heart and makes it beat with less
contracting force, so blood pressure drops and the heart
works less hard. It is used for high blood pressure,
chest pain, and to prevent a repeat heart attack.
Nitrates
(including nitroglycerine) – relaxes
blood vessels and stops chest pain.
Calcium channel blocker
– relaxes blood vessels and is used for high blood
pressure and chest pain.
Diuretic
– decreases fluid in the body and is used for
high blood pressure. Diuretics are sometimes referred
to as "water pills."
Blood cholesterol-lowering
agents – decrease LDL cholesterol
levels in the blood.
Thrombolytic agents–also
called "clot busting drugs," they are given
during a heart attack to break up a blood clot in a
coronary artery in order to restore blood flow. (More
on these and heart attack)
Drugs can cause side effects. If side effects occur,
report them to your doctor. Often, a change in the dose
or type of a medication, or the use of a combination
of drugs can stop the side effect.
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