Routes to a healthy heart:
Drugs for a healthy heart
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Nine simple ways to reduce your risk of another heart attack: |
There are now many drugs available that can help to reduce your risk of having another heart attack. Your doctor will select the ones that are most appropriate for you and can explain in detail what benefits each offers you. Don't be surprised or discouraged if you end up taking two, three or even four drugs: combinations of drugs are widely used in heart attack patients to give the broadest range of protection against factors that increase risk for another heart attack. In particular, you may find that you need to take several drugs to give good control of your blood pressure. This practice is widely recommended by experts as the best way to control high blood pressure with drugs.
Things it is important to remember:
- Take all your medication regularly and in the way advised by your doctor.
- Do not stop taking any of your medication at any time without first consulting your physician.
- Do not take any over-the-counter drugs or any complementary therapies without first consulting your physician (some can interact with the drugs you have been prescribed).
- If you change physician, take your medication along with you at your first visit so that he/she can see what you are currently taking.
To help you remember to take your medication, establish a routine for yourself so that taking your medication becomes part of your daily life. Start by writing a list of what you have to take and when, and don't be afraid to consult your list until you have the details firmly fixed in your mind.
Here's a short introduction to several of the types of drugs that you may be prescribed. Consult your own doctor for more details about these drugs, or any others that you may be prescribed.
Short introduction to several of the types of drugs
ACE inhibitors: 'ACE' stands for 'angiotensin-converting enzyme'. This produces a substance called angiotensin II, which raises blood pressure. ACE inhibitors prevent this process and so control blood pressure. This is the main reason for using these drugs after a heart attack, though some scientists believe that ACE inhibitors have additional actions that may be advantageous for heart attack patients, including preventing the formation of fatty deposits in coronary arteries. One conspicuous side effect of ACE inhibitors is that they can cause a persistent dry cough, especially at night. If this happens it may be necessary to switch to other drugs that control blood pressure. Click here to learn more about how fatty deposits in coronary arteries contribute to heart attacks.
Aspirin, the kind you find in just about every household, has been proven to be a remarkably beneficial drug for patients who have had a heart attack, and is now regarded as one of the 'must-have' treatments for almost all heart attack patients. Aspirin can reduce the risk of another heart attack because it prevents blood clots forming and blocking the blood supply to the heart. Low doses of aspirin (as low as 75 mg/day) are effective for reducing the risk of a heart attack. Using low doses also means that there is less risk of causing ulceration of the stomach and digestive tract, which is one of the biggest problems encountered with long-term use of aspirin. Click here to learn more about how blood clots contribute to heart attacks.
Beta-blockers have two uses in heart attack. Used immediately after a heart attack they improve the chances of survival. For this purpose they are given intravenously. Later, when you are sent home from hospital, you may be prescribed beta-blocker tablets to be taken by mouth. The main reason for taking these tablets is to control blood pressure. Keeping blood pressure low helps to reduce the risk of another heart attack. Click here to learn more about control of blood pressure.
Beta-blockers lower the heart rate: usually this occurs without symptoms, but occasionally patients become aware that their heart is beating slowly, which they may find unsettling and may contribute to fainting. Beta-blockers must be used with great care in patients with asthma: conversely, bronchodilator drugs ('beta-agonists') for asthma should be used with great care in patients who have had a heart attack.
Cholesterol-lowering drugs: Several sorts of drug can lower the level of cholesterol in the blood but nowadays by far the most widely used type are the drugs called statins. Examples include atorvastatin and simvastatin. These drugs lower cholesterol very effectively if taken regularly. They work by inhibiting the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver.
Diuretics are widely prescribed for patients who have had a heart attack. They act to prevent fluid accumulating in the body and to control blood pressure. You may know them as 'water tablets'. Click here to learn more about control of blood pressure.
OMACOR® is a preparation of highly purified, highly concentrated omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids that has been proven to benefit patients who have suffered a heart attack. Click here to learn more about OMACOR®. OMACOR® has been approved for the secondary prevention of heart attacks, used in conjunction with other medications described in this website. Experts recommend the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids as part of measures to reduce the risk of a second heart attack.
Anticoagulants prevent the blood from congealing inside blood vessels. In most patients a similar effect can be obtained by using aspirin but anticoagulants may be appropriate for some patients, including those who have a history of ill health due to embolus formation and people with certain types of irregular heart beat. The blood level of anticoagulants needs to be checked at regular intervals and adjusted if necessary. This will probably involve you going to hospital to provide a blood sample, though means are being developed for patients to do self-monitoring, which may be more convenient.
