A heart attack is a very serious condition that will most likely result in you taking life-long prescribed medication.
Cardiovascular disease, such as coronary artery disease, is the leading cause of death worldwide and as such, a lot of research is being conducted to find ways of treating it.
However, there are as yet no known cures for heart valve problems. All that a doctor can do is prescribe medications that will reduce high blood pressure in the blood vessels, prevent blood clots from forming, and treat abnormal heart rhythms.
There are many types of medications prescribed to target the specific symptoms of heart failure depending on the individual circumstances of the heart attack.
At times, doctors will prescribe a cocktail of medications if there is a need to, for example, lower blood pressure and, at the same time, prevent blood clots from forming.
In this article, we will look at seven common types of medications prescribed by physicians to help heart failure patients lead relatively normal lives after having suffered a heart attack.
There are many known causes of heart failure, heart attacks, and related heart valve failure problems, such as:
However, there is still much that needs to be known about heart failure and its causes, and research is ongoing.
Heart valve problems can be fatal if left untreated and the sooner you receive medication the better your chances of recovery.
As such, it is important to be able to quickly identify the symptoms of heart failure and heart attacks, such as:
If you notice any of these symptoms, especially if you are at any advanced age or have any of the high-risk factors associated with failure of the heart valves, such as a family history of heart disease, consult a doctor immediately.
Heart medications come in many forms and their effectiveness depends on a wide range of factors, such as how advanced the heart conditions are and whether any other conditions are putting undue strain on the heart valves.
Only a doctor will be able to tell you which type of cardiac medications you need to be taking based on the symptoms you are exhibiting.
The following are the common medications a cardiologist is likely to prescribe to heart failure patients:
Cholesterol absorption inhibitors, called statins are used to lower the levels of so-called “bad cholesterol” in the blood vessels.
An example of such cholesterol is low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which increases the risk of plaque buildup (atherosclerosis).
Rosuvastatin (Crestor) and atorvastatin (Lipitor) are the common types of statins that are used to treat cholesterol buildup in the arteries and prevent its production in the liver.
One of the symptoms of heart valve issues is the increase in the heart’s workload, an issue that is usually treated using calcium channel blockers.
Examples of common calcium channel blockers include verapamil (Verelan) and diltiazem (Cardizem).
Calcium blockers act by preventing calcium from being deposited in the heart and artery cells and are used to treat angina, abnormal heart rhythms, and high blood pressure.
Some of the first types of medications prescribed after a heart attack are beta blockers. A lot of harmful substances are produced and released into the blood vessels during a heart attack and beta blockers work to eliminate these substances.
Examples of common beta blockers include metoprolol (Toprol), nebivolol (Bystolic), and carvedilol (Coreg).
Using beta blockers immediately after a heart attack has been shown to significantly improve the chances of the heart’s recovery.
Commonly called blood thinners, anticoagulants do not necessarily act as regular blood thinners but rather work against blood coagulation to prevent blood clots from forming.
A cardiologist will often prescribe anticoagulants to patients who have has heart attacks or have some form of artificial heart valve installed.
There are many different types of anticoagulants used to prevent blood coagulating, such as apixaban (Eliquis), dabigatran (Pradaxa), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), and warfarin (Coumadin).
Heart arrhythmias are usually associated with the heart beating too fast, too slowly, or having an irregular heartbeat.
To treat this condition, a doctor may prescribe antiarrhythmics that are designed to target the heart’s electrical activity.
In many cases, antiarrhythmics are prescribed together with other treatments or procedures, such as internal cardiac defibrillators and pacemakers.
Prescribing medication to treat high blood pressure is one of the first things a doctor will do after you have suffered heart failure.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are the most common treatment plan prescribed, sometimes in conjunction with angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).
These medications treat high blood pressure by dilating the blood vessels to improve blood flow.
When prescribed to patients with heart disease, ACE inhibitors and ARBs help to treat high blood pressure and heart failure to prevent the possibility of suffering a heart attack.
Aspirin can be prescribed to patients at risk of suffering a heart attack as it helps prevent blood clots and also targets any existing blood clots already in the blood vessels.
Taking aspirin therapy daily has also been shown to be effective against the inflammation caused by heart disease.
The consequences of suffering a heart attack a very serious and is important for patients with heart disease or heart valve problems to take steps to minimize the chances of that happening.
Some of the steps you can take to prevent future heart attacks include:
Before you take any form or medication to lower blood pressure, relax blood vessels, or for preventing blood platelets from sticking together and forming blood clots, consult an experienced physician first.
There are many ways to help you achieve a full recovery after suffering heart failure caused by heart valve problems but you need professional guidance every step of the way.
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