There are a variety of drugs prescribed for patients
with heart disease. It's important
for both patients living with
heart disease and those who
care for them to understand the prescribed medication, to follow the directions
of usage, and to be able to recognize the possible side effects associated with
the medicine. The drugs most commonly prescribed for heart disease include:
ACE Inhibitors: ACE inhibitors are a type of medication that dilates
(widens) the blood vessels to improve the amount of blood the heart pumps. ACE
inhibitors also increase blood flow, which will help decrease the amount of work
the heart has to do. These drugs block some of the harmful substances (like
angiotensin) that are produced as a result of
heart failure. They also block
some of the harmful responses of the endocrine system that may occur with heart
failure.
Aldosterone Inhibitor:
Spironolactone and eplerenone
are potassium-sparing diuretics. They can be prescribed to reduce the swelling
and water build-up caused by heart failure. Diuretics cause the
kidneys to get rid of unneeded
water and salt from the tissues and blood into the urine.
In the past few years, they've been prescribed in low doses to improve
heart failure symptoms that are
still present despite use of other treatments. These drugs protect the heart by
blocking a chemical (aldosterone) in the body that causes salt and fluid
build-up. This medication is used to treat patients with certain types of severe
heart failure.
Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARBs): ARBs are used to decrease
blood pressure in people with
heart failure. ARBs decrease certain chemicals that narrow the blood vessels so
blood can flow more easily through your body. They also decrease certain
chemicals that cause salt and fluid build-up in the body.
Currently, ARBs are usually prescribed when the patient cannot tolerate an ACE
inhibitor.
Beta-Blockers: Beta-blockers block the effects of adrenaline (epinephrine) which can improve
the heart's ability to perform. They also decrease the production of harmful
substances produced by the body in response to heart failure.
Calcium Channel Blockers: Calcium channel blockers are prescribed to
treatangina (chest pain) and
high blood pressure. Calcium
channel blockers affect the movement of calcium in the cells of the heart and
blood vessels. As a result, the drugs relax blood vessels and increase the
supply of blood and oxygen to the heart, while reducing its workload.
Calcium channel blockers are only used to treat heart failure caused by high
blood pressure when other medications to lower blood pressure are ineffective.
Certain calcium channel blockers are used for certain types of heart failure.
Consult our doctor to see if one is right for you.
Cholesterol -Lowering
Drugs: Cholesterol helps your body build new cells, insulate nerves, and
produce hormones. But too much of it in your bloodstream can lead to coronary
artery disease. Normally, the
liver makes all the cholesterol
the body needs. But cholesterol also enters your body from dietary sources --
animal-based foods like milk, eggs, and meat.
