Physicians now have an arsenal of medications that they can prescribe to help their patients battle heart disease. If you are a heart patient, you should continue to take one or more of these very effective medications.
As a heart patient, you need to understand what each heart medications do and use it safely, often combined. When taken correctly and according to the proper prescription, these cardiac medications increase health quality by preventing heart attacks and strokes.
Your doctor would probably prescribe that you make important lifestyle improvements, such as starting an exercise regimen, to treat your heart disease. They’re also likely to prescribe cardiac medications. There are several types of heart medications available to help treat heart disease in a variety of ways.
Top heart medications
The following medications are among the most commonly prescribed drugs by cardiologists and other physicians for various cardiovascular disorders. That includes high blood pressure, high cholesterol, angina, and cardiac arrhythmia.
1. Anticoagulants
Your doctor may suggest an anticoagulant to prevent a heart attack, stroke, or other serious medical problems.
Plaque is one of the main problems with heart failure. Plaque buildup in a blood artery can lead to a blood clot. It can cause severe complications when it breaks out of a plate. For instance, if the clot is lodged in a heart artery, it will partially or completely block blood flow to the heart and cause a heart attack. If the blood clot passes to the lungs, there may be a pulmonary embolism. And if a clot lodges in the brain, there may be a stroke.
Anticoagulants work by preventing the development of blood clots. Some people do this by stopping the body from making substances called clotting factors. Others keep clotting factors from working or preventing other chemicals from forming so that clots cannot develop. Anticoagulants should not break up existing blood clots, however.
Examples of anticoagulants include:
- Enoxaparin (Lovenox)
- Heparin
- Warfarin (Coumadin)
What the Medication Does
It decreases the ability of the blood to clot (coagulate). Sometimes called blood thinners, but they don’t thin the blood. They don’t remove existing blood clots. Doctors use them for the treatment of certain blood vessels, heart, and lung conditions.
Reason for Medication
- It helps prevent the formation of unhealthy clots in the blood vessels
- May prevent clots from becoming bigger and causing more serious problems.
- Doctors also prescribe it to prevent a first or repeated stroke.
2. Anti platelet agents
Your doctor can recommend antiplatelet medication to prevent a future heart attack if you have already had one or if you have a buildup of plaque in your arteries. They can also prescribe one if you have irregular heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation. Hence, arrhythmias can increase your risk of blood clots.
Like anticoagulants, antiplatelet medications help reduce blood clots. But they do so in a different way. That is by preventing the body from producing thromboxane that tells platelets to stick together to form a clot.
Examples of antiplatelet drugs include:
- Aspirin
- Clopidogrel (Plavix)
- Prasugrel (Effient)
What the Medication Does
It keeps blood clots from developing, preventing blood platelets from sticking together.
Reason for Medication
- It helps prevent clotting in people who have had a heart attack, unstable angina, ischaemic stroke, TIA (transient ischaemic attacks), and other cardiovascular disease types.
- Preventive medication can also be issued when plaque buildup is apparent. But there is still no major blockage in the artery.
- Certain patients will be prescribed aspirin in conjunction with another antiplatelet drug. This is also known as dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT).
3. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
ACE inhibitors prevent angiotensin from binding in the body. Angiotensin is a hormone that allows the blood vessels to constrict or reduce. This raises your blood pressure. Lower levels of angiotensin then help widen your blood vessels and make your blood flow easier. This reduces your blood pressure.
If you have high blood pressure or heart disease, your doctor can prescribe an ACE inhibitor. They can even prescribe one if you have had a heart attack. These heart medications can help your heart muscle recover from a lack of oxygen during an attack. They will help prevent another heart attack, too.
Examples of ACE inhibitors include:
- Benazepril (Lotensin)
- Ramipril (Altace)
- Captopril
What the Medication Does
Expands blood vessels and reduces resistance by lowering angiotensin II levels. Allows blood to flow more easily. Thus, it makes the work of the heart easier or more effective.
Reason for Medication
- Doctors use it to treat or improve cardiovascular disease signs, including high blood pressure and heart failure.
4. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
ARBs are blocking the effects of angiotensin on your heart. This reduces blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure or congestive heart failure, your doctor can prescribe ARB. Like ACE inhibitors, ARBs will help you recover from a heart attack.
Examples of ARBs include:
- Losartan (Cozaar)
- Olmesartan (Benicar)
- Valsartan (Diovan)
What the Medication Does
Rather than reducing angiotensin II levels (as do ACE inhibitors) receptor antagonists, angiotensin II prevents this chemical from affecting the heart and blood vessels. This keeps the blood pressure from increasing.
Reason for Medication
- Doctors use it to treat or improve cardiovascular disease signs, including high blood pressure and heart failure.
5. Beta-Blocker
Beta-blockers are a broad category of heart medications used to treat different problems from heart disease. In general, beta-blockers work by suppressing the actions of certain chemicals that stimulate the heart, such as adrenaline. This makes it easier for the heart to beat more slowly and less forcefully.
Your doctor may prescribe a beta-blocker to help avoid a first heart attack and repeat heart attacks. Doctors can also prescribe them whether you have high blood pressure, heart disease, chest pain, or arrhythmia.
Examples of beta-blockers include:
- Metoprolol (Lopressor)
- Labetalol (Trandate)
- (Inderal)
What the Medication Does
It decreases heart rate and contraction strength. This reduces blood pressure and enables the heart to beat more slowly and with less energy.
Reason for Medication
- These cardiac medications are used for reducing blood pressure
- Used for heart arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythms)
- Used to treat pain in the chest (angina)
- Doctors prescribe it to help prevent future cardiac attacks in people following a heart attack.
The Bottom Line
Collectively, these cardiac medications save lives by preventing heart attacks and strokes. You are likely to take one or more of these drugs, whether you are at risk for or have coronary heart disease. Make sure you know the drugs and follow.
