Heart disease medications and common medical procedures

Shortness of breath with pain in the chest is a typical symptom of heart disease. However, you will need to undergo various medical tests to make a diagnosis of the disease, for example cardiac catheterization, electrocardiography, or echocardiography. After that, the doctor will recommend medications for heart disease and the appropriate treatment for heart disease. Come on, understand the details in the following review.

Choice of heart disease medication

Heart (cardiovascular) disease cannot be cured. However, there are a variety of medications available that can help relieve symptoms as well as prevent disease severity. Reporting from the American Heart Foundation website, some drugs that are generally prescribed for people with heart disease, include:

1. Anticoagulants

Anticoagulants are also known as blood thinners. In fact, this drug does not thin the blood, but prevents blood clots from forming. So, this drug does not thin the blood clots that have formed in the body so that they do not clog the blood vessels.

The types of anticoagulants used to treat heart disease include:

• Apixaban
• Dabigatran
• Edoxaban
• Heparin
• Rivaroxaban
• Warfarin

2.Antiplatelet Agents and Dual Antiplatelet Therapy (DAPT)

Antiplatelet agents are drugs that can prevent blood clots from forming by preventing blood platelets from sticking together. Your doctor may also prescribe this medication if it is evident that plaque buildup has not caused a blockage in the artery. These types of pain medications that are usually prescribed include:

• Aspirin
• Clopidogrel
• Dipyridamole
• Prasugrel
• Ticagrelor

Those of you who have atherosclerosis, have had a stent or heart ring placed, but have not had a heart attack, aspirin and clopidogrel will be prescribed for 1-6 months.

Meanwhile, those of you who undergo coronary artery bypass surgery will generally be prescribed inhibiotor drugs (clopidogrel, prasugrel, and ticagrelor) for one year. After the use of other drugs may be stopped, it is possible that aspirin is continued in the long term.

3. Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitor

ACE inhibitors are heart disease medications that can dilate blood vessels. This allows blood to flow more easily and makes the work of the heart easier.

This drug is usually used to relieve various symptoms of heart disease, including preventing heart failure and hypertension. Some of the types of ACE inhibitor drugs that are usually prescribed include:

• Benazepril
• Captopril
• Enalapril
• Fosinopril
• Lisinopril
• Moexipril
• Perindopril
• Quinapril
• Ramipril
• Trandolapril

4.Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)

Angiotensin II receptor blockers are drugs that can block angiotensin II receptors (a chemical produced by the body) and stimulate negative effects on the heart and blood vessels.

This drug is used to reduce symptoms of heart disease, hypertension, and heart failure. The types of ARBs that doctors usually prescribe include:

• Azilsartan
• Candesartan
• Eprosartan
• Irbesartan
• Losartan
• Olmesartan
• Telmisartan
• Valsartan

5.Angiotensin Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibitors (ARNI)

Angiotensin Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibitors are a combination of the inhibitor drug neprilysin and ARB. One example of the type of drug prescribed is sacubitril or valsartan.

Neprilysin is an enzyme that breaks down natural substances in the body that open up narrow arteries. By limiting the effect of this enzyme, narrow arterial passages open wider and increase blood flow.

Usually this drug is prescribed to people who have heart failure. In addition, this medication for heart disease also reduces stress on organs and retention of sodium (salt) in the body.

6. Beta-blockers

Beta-blockers are drugs that can reduce the rate and force of the heart's contractions. Usually it is prescribed to treat arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), hypertension, chest pain, and prevent heart attacks later in life.

Some types of beta-blocker heart disease that doctors prescribe include:

• Acebutolol
• Atenolol
• Betaxolol
• Bisoprolol
• Metoprolol
• Nadolol
• Propranolol
• Sotalol

7. Combined alpha and beta-blockers

The combination of alpha and beta-blockers is used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. The types of drugs that are usually prescribed are carvedilol and labetalol hydrochloride. This medication may cause a side effect, which is to lower your blood pressure when you stand up.

8. Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium channel blockers work by interfering with the movement of calcium to heart cells and blood vessels. That way, it can relax blood vessels and reduce the strength of the heart so it doesn't pump excessively.

Heart disease medications are usually prescribed to relieve chest pain, arrhythmias, and hypertension. Some examples of drugs of this type that are often prescribed include:

• Amlodipine
• Diltiazem
• Felodipine
• Nifedipine
• Nimodipine
• Nisoldipine
• Verapamil

9. Cholesterol-lowering drugs

Plaque blockage in arteries can be caused by uncontrolled cholesterol levels. That is why doctors will prescribe cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as:

• Statins: atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pitavastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin
• Nicotinic acid: niacin
• Cholesterol absorption inhibitor: ezetimibe
• Combinations of statins and cholesterol absorption inhibitors: ezetimibe or simvastatin

10. Diuretic

Diuretic drugs work by removing excess fluid and sodium in the body through urine. This makes you urinate frequently after taking the medicine. This diuretic process can reduce the workload of the heart, fluids in the lungs, and other body parts, such as the ankles and hands.

This drug is prescribed to people with heart disease with hypertension and edema (swelling of the body due to fluid buildup). The types of diuretic drugs that doctors usually prescribe include:

• Acetazolamide
• Amiloride
• Bumetanide
• Chlorothiazide
• Chlorthalidone
• Furosemide
• Hydro-chlorothiazide
• Indapamide
• Metalozone
• Spironolactone
• Torsemide

11. Digitalis Preparations

Digitalis preparations are drugs used to relieve symptoms of heart failure and arrhythmias due to atrial fibrillation. Especially when the patient does not respond to standard heart disease treatments, such as ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and diuretics.

The way this drug works is to increase the force of heart contractions. One type of drug that is usually used is digoxin.

12. Vasodilators

Vasodilators can relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure. Nitrate category vasodilators can increase the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart while reducing its workload so that chest pain symptoms will improve.

Apart from being swallowed, certain types of vasodilators are available as sublinguals (placed under the tongue), sprays, and topical creams. One example of a vasodilator drug for heart disease is nitroglycerin. Other types of drugs that you might find at a pharmacy, namely:

• Isosorbide dinitrate
• Isosorbide mononitrate
• Hydralazine
• Minoxidil

Drugs that people with heart disease need to watch out for

Of the various types of drugs above, there are also drugs that patients with heart disease should avoid. These drugs may interact with the drugs you are taking or cause adverse side effects.

More specifically, here is a list of drugs that are prohibited for patients with heart disease or you should first consult their use with the doctor who treats your condition.

• NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs): drugs to relieve pain and fever, for example ibuprofen and naproxen. Heart patients who take doctor's medications along with NSAIDs are at high risk of having a heart attack.
• Antibiotics: Medicines to treat bacterial and parasitic infections. Types of antibiotics such as azithromycin, amoxicillin. and ciprofloxacin should not be used in patients with heart disease because it can trigger arrhythmias.
• Decongestants: Medicines to relieve colds and coughs, which heart disease patients should avoid. This medicine can raise your blood pressure and put you at risk of causing a stroke or heart attack.
• Aspirin: These drugs can be prescribed to treat heart disease, but they are not always necessary. For example, when you are given an anticoagulant medication, you should not take aspirin because it can cause bleeding.

Medical procedures to treat heart disease

Heart disease can be treated by taking the medicines mentioned above. However, in some cases, how to cure heart disease requires further medical procedures. This action needs to be done as a rescue procedure because heart disease often causes death.

More specifically, consider one by one the medical procedures taken as a way to treat heart disease, including:

1. Angioplasty

Angioplasty or also known as Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCI) is a treatment for heart disease that is done by inserting a balloon-tipped catheter to expand the blood vessels.

After entering the body, the balloon is inflated so that the narrow vessels will expand. That way, oxygen-rich blood flow can reach the heart smoothly.

After undergoing the procedure, you are usually advised to follow heart disease drug therapy, such as dual antiplatelet therapy.

2. Laser angioplasty

Not much different from ordinary angioplasty, this procedure to treat heart disease uses a catheter with a laser tip. Laser angioplasty is another form of basic angioplasty.

When it enters the body, the laser will be activated and destroy the plaque that has built up. This technique is performed to open up the open arteries and increase blood flow to the heart.

3. Heart valve replacement surgery

The aortic valve and the mitral valve are the parts of the heart valve that often undergo replacement. This procedure is performed when the aortic valve is narrowed (aortic stenosis).

This procedure is done so that the valve can return to work properly, namely in regulating blood flow in the heart. Two conditions that often necessitate heart valve replacement surgery include:

Aortic regurgutation (aortic insufficiency)

Regurgitation indicates the valve does not close completely, causing blood to flow back into the heart. In fact, blood should flow outside the heart. In most cases, this condition causes heart failure.

Mitral regurgitation

In this condition, the mitral valve allows oxygenated blood to flow back into the lungs, when it is supposed to flow to the heart. People who experience this condition often experience shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats, and chest pain.

The medical process for the treatment of heart disease includes a variety of surgical options, including:

• Replacing the old valve with a mechanical valve (a special tool made by the factory).
• Replacing certain valve tissue from a donor.
• Move the healthy valve to the damaged part.
• Aortic valve implantation.

Of the various surgical options, you may be required to take medication for heart disease, such as long-term anticoagulants.

4. Atherectomy

The way to cure heart disease is similar to angioplasty. However, in this procedure the tool used is in the form of a catheter equipped with a device to cut plaque in the artery.

The goal of treating heart disease is to increase blood flow through blocked arteries by removing plaque buildup. It is also used on the arteries around the neck or carotid arteries to lower the risk of stroke.

5. Bypass operation

Bypass surgery, also known as a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG), is performed through open heart surgery. The goal is to overcome blockages in the heart arteries by creating new channels for blood to flow to the heart muscle.

Bypass surgery is the most common and effective procedure for managing blood blockages to the heart muscle. In addition, it also increases the blood and oxygen supply to the heart, thereby helping to relieve chest pain and improve the patient's physical abilities.

6. Cardiomyoplasty

This treatment for heart disease aims to increase the movement of the heart in pumping blood. This is done by adding muscles from the back or stomach around the heart.

With the additional muscles assisted by stimulation from a special device that resembles a pacemaker, heart function can return to normal.

7. Heart transplant

The damaged heart needs to be replaced. This procedure for removing and replacing the heart is called a heart transplant.

This procedure has been shown to restore health if the patient previously performed a thorough examination and demonstrated a high compatibility with the donor heart. That means, the new heart is suitable and can adapt well to the new body.

8. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery

This is an alternative way of treating heart disease to standard bypass surgery. A small incision will be made in the chest, this is called a port. After that, the instrument will be plugged into the port to bypass.

When the heart stops, an oxygenerator machine will be inserted to replace the role of the heart in pumping blood. Treatment of this disease is known as Port-Access Coronary Artery Bypass (PACAB). If you don't need an oxygenerator machine, it's called a Minimally Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (MIDCAB).

The goals of minimally invasive heart surgery are to overcome blockage of blood flow to the heart, relieve chest pain, and reduce the risk of stroke. After the procedure, you will need to be hospitalized for a few days and take heart disease medication.

9. Catheter ablation

A catheter with an electrode at the end will be guided through the blood vessels to the heart muscle with the help of moving X-rays (fluoroscopy). This is displayed on the video screen making it easier for the doctor to place it.

The catheter is then placed in the heart, where the cells emit electrical signals that stimulate abnormal heart rhythms.

Then, the microwaves transmitted down the pathway carefully destroy the heart muscle cells. This is done so that various types of arrhythmias can be lost, one of which is supraventricular tachyarrhythmias.

10. Installation of a heart stent

A heart stent is a wire tube used to hold the artery open during angioplasty. In some cases, it is left in the body to prevent the arteries from narrowing. Narrowing of the arteries can recur in the stent area, and this is known as restenosis.

With this treatment for heart disease, the arteries will open and blood flow to the muscles will be smoother. Drugs for heart disease, such as antiplatelet drugs, are usually prescribed by doctors to prevent complications.

11. Transmyocardial revascularization (TMR)

This procedure is done by making an incision in the left breast area. Then, a laser is used to make a path from outside the heart into the pumping chambers of the heart. In some cases, TMR is performed simultaneously with bypass surgery.

Surgery is usually performed to relieve severe chest pain and no angioplasty or single bypass surgery is recommended.

There are also options for natural remedies for heart disease

Apart from the medications your doctor prescribes, there are also options for natural remedies. However, you should not make this heart treatment as the main treatment. In addition, its use must also be supervised by a doctor, so consult your doctor before using it.

The following are various choices of natural medicine (traditional) for heart disease patients in the form of supplements and vitamins, including:

Omega 3 supplements

Harvard Heart Publishing states that the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends the use of omega 3 supplements in patients with coronary heart disease to prevent heart attacks.

This natural remedy has shown the potential to reduce the risk of death to be lower in heart disease patients. After investigation, this supplement known as fish oil provides protection to the heart in several ways, such as:

• Stabilizes blood flow in and around the heart.
• Reducing blood triglyceride levels in the body.
• Lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation.
• Prevent blood clots.

Phytosterols

This supplement contains sterol compounds and stanol esters, which are natural compounds in plant cell membranes that have a structure similar to cholesterol in the body. Both sterols and stanols can be found easily in fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

When consumed, these compounds compete with cholesterol in the absorption process in the digestive system. As a result, cholesterol absorption will be inhibited and make cholesterol levels in the blood decrease so that it can benefit patients with heart disease.

Based on the Cleveland Clinic report, there are no negative health effects from the use of this supplement because the body's tissues do not store phytosterols so that the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.

Vitamin K supplements, and vitamin B

Vitamin B is a vitamin that has good benefits for the heart. Starting from vitamin B1 (thiamine) and vitamin B2 (riboflavin) which support the health of nerves and heart muscle.

A study on American Journal Of Preventive Medicine indicates that vitamin B deficiency is at risk of causing stroke, atherosclerosis, and heart attack. The use of this supplement may reduce the risk of death from heart disease.

Natural remedies in the form of vitamin K supplements also provide benefits for heart health, namely reducing vascular calcification.

Vascular calcification itself is a metabolic pathway that causes calcium compounds in blood vessels. The adherence of calcium to these blood vessels will later form plaque and cause atherosclerosis.

Supplements containing garlic

A natural remedy for heart disease that can be used as an option is garlic supplements. Yes, you are certainly familiar with the benefits of garlic for the heart, right?

Garlic contains vitamin C, vitamin B6, manganese, selenium, and antioxidants, such as allicin, which provide good benefits for the heart. All of these nutrients can prevent heart disease by keeping blood pressure stable.

A research published on The Journal of Nutrition, showed that consumption of garlic supplements reduced blood pressure by 7-16 mmHg (systolic) and 5-9 mmHg (diastolic). In addition, total cholesterol levels were also reduced by 7.4-29.9 mg / dL.With these benefits, heart health can be maintained.

Even so, until now studies are still looking at the effectiveness and possible side effects of using natural medicines for the treatment of heart disease.

Improve treatment by changing your lifestyle

Medicines and medical procedures to treat heart disease are very diverse. You cannot decide which treatment is the right one for you. Need further examination of the condition and doctor's consideration, because every treatment has side effects. Including, if you are interested in using natural heart medicines.

In addition, lifestyle changes include supporting the treatment of heart disease. Therefore, you must avoid fatty and high salt foods, exercise diligently, stop smoking, and reduce the habit of drinking alcohol.

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