Are
You Taking the Right Medications?
If you have angina or high blood pressure caused by coronary heart disease
(CHD) you doctor will advise you to make some lifestyle changes. You may be
told to control your weight, cholesterol and high blood pressure, as well as
told not to smoke, drink only in moderation and to avoid stress. These
modifications may not be enough so most people with CHD will take a combination
of five medications—ACE inhibitors, Aspirin, Beta blockers, Calcium channel
blockers and statin drugs.
ACE inhibitors have been in the news lately based on large studies showing
the effectiveness of these drugs to lower blood pressure by keeping blood
vessels open. Aspirin thins the blood and can help keep arteries open but it
has risks. The FDA has not approved aspirin as a way to prevent heart attacks
but your doctor will determine if you could benefit from aspirin. To help the
heart work more efficiently, beta blockers are used to slow it down and pump
easier—thus lowering blood pressure. Calcium channel blockers also help the
heart work more efficient by keeping calcium from entering the heart muscles
and relaxes blood vessels which lower blood pressure and chest pain. To lower the
low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol statins are used. According to
research, they may reduce the risk of stroke as well as protecting against
further heart disease.
All of these medications are powerful against heart disease and the right
combination can make all the difference to your health. A medication checkup
with your doctor and pharmacist can keep everyone up to date on your care. Be
sure to tell them everything you are taking, an easy way is to bring a bag with
all of your prescriptions—not just your heart medications. Also include any
vitamins, supplements, headache and cold remedies, and other health aids you
use including laxatives and sleeping pills. The more information you give, the
more full the picture is to see if there is anything that should be changed in
your treatment. Its best to make an appointment with your doctor or pharmacists
about this checkup so they will be prepared to spend the time to go over any
questions you may have about your medications.
SOURCES: National Heart, Lung & Blood Institutes;
American Heart Association
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/treat/bpd_type.htm
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/actintime/hdm/hdm.htm
www.americanheart.org/