Common Medications
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The human heart is an incredible organ. It beats roughly 2.5 billion times over the course of an average lifetime. The steady flow of blood carries oxygen and nutrients to every part of the body. When it stops beating, every other organ in the body shuts down almost instantly. This tremendous heart work means the health of this organ is critical for survival and healthy living. In the United States, heart disease is the leading preventable cause of death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that one person dies every 36 seconds from cardiovascular disease, which claims approximately 655,000 lives each year.
Risk of Heart Disease
A person's chances of developing cardiovascular disease depends on many factors, including diet, exercise, smoking, genetics, and more. Age is one of the most common risk factors associated with heart disease. However, it is not guaranteed that everyone will have heart problems as they get older. It is possible to intervene with heart- healthy eating habits and other lifestyle changes. Talk to your doctor for more information or seek their guidance on making changes to your daily routine that can help protect your health and longevity.
You can reduce your chances of getting heart disease by living a heart-healthy lifestyle at a young age and making a long-term commitment to yourself. This includes keeping blood pressure and blood sugar levels under control as well as maintaining good cholesterol levels with regular check-ups. It also means eating a healthy diet with foods rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids.
The American Heart Association recommends an eating plan with a variety of nutritious foods from different food groups. Limiting foods with high fat content is a good way to keep cholesterol under control. The goal should be to use up as many calories as you take in. If you are overweight, you should try and lose weight to lower your chances of developing cardiovascular disease. They also recommend incorporating at least 30 minutes of exercise into your daily routine to raise your heart rate and improve cardiovascular strength.
Medications for Heart Disease
Some of the most common types of heart disease include high blood pressure and atherosclerosis (blocking of the arteries due to high cholesterol). There are various types of medications used to treat these symptoms or reduce the risk of heart disease. The most common cardiac drugs are listed below:
- Anticoagulants or blood thinners decrease clotting ability and are used to prevent clots from forming. They are often prescribed to prevent stroke and reduce the chances of a heart attack.
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors expand the blood vessels and allow easier flow to make the heart's work easier. These medications are used to treat symptoms of heart disease such as high blood pressure and heart failure.
- Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers or ARBs prevent the chemical angiotensin from affecting blood vessels. This keeps the blood flowing adequately and can help improve high blood pressure.
- Beta blockers are a commonly prescribed group of medications for heart disease. They decrease the strength of cardiac contraction and make the heart beat with less force, thus lowering blood pressure. They are also used to treat abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias. Beta blockers may help reduce the risk of a heart attack.
- Calcium Channel Blockers prevent the movement of calcium in the cardiovascular system, which helps reduce the pumping strength of the heart. Calcium channel blockers are used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain, and abnormal cardiac rhythms.
- Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs work by interrupting the formation of cholesterol and are used to lower the risk of heart disease.
- Diuretics, commonly called water pills, help the body get rid of excess fluid and reduce the workload on the heart. They are used to lower blood pressure.
- Vasodilators relax the blood vessels, improve blood flow, and decrease blood pressure. They are prescribed to people with angina (chest pain).
Over-the-Counter Medications and Blood Pressure
It is worth noting that some over-the-counter (OTC) medications like decongestants, cold and flu remedies, pain relievers, and antacids can raise your blood pressure or prevent your cardiac medication from working.
Over-the-Counter Medications for Heart Disease
Aspirin is a medication that can help reduce your chance of strokes and heart attacks when used daily. However, the daily use of aspirin is not advisable for everyone. It can result in serious side effects like bleeding and kidney failure. The American Heart Association recommends allowing a health professional to prescribe you aspirin if deemed appropriate.
Common Side Effects of Cardiac Medications
Each type of cardiac medication can have different side effects. Your doctor will tell which symptoms to report.
- Anticoagulants could cause bleeding and gangrene of the skin.
- ACE inhibitors could cause cough, low blood pressure, dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, and rash.
- Vasodilators could cause dizziness, headache, and irregular heart rate.
- Calcium channel blockers may cause nausea, constipation, headaches, rash, and low blood pressure.
Common Questions
How can I reduce my chances of developing heart problems? There are several ways to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. Both the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health recommend:
- Regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks
- Eating a healthy diet
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Participating in regular physical activity
- Quitting smoking
- Getting enough good quality sleep
Does my family history affect my chances of getting heart disease?
According to the American Heart Association, family history is strongly linked to risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Your doctor can give you additional information or tell you if you need a DNA test.
Are men more likely to die from heart disease?
Research on men and women’s health has shown that both genders have equal chances of suffering from heart disease. This condition is responsible for one in three deaths for both sexes, however, men tend to have heart attacks earlier in life than women--age 65 for men compared to age 72 for women. That said, risk factors other than gender play bigger roles in defining heart health.
References:
1. https://www.health.harvard.edu/topics/heart-health
2. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm
3. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/aha-diet-and-lifestyle-recommendations
4. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/treatment-of-a-heart-attack/cardiac-medications
5. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/safe-daily-use-aspirin/aspirin-reducing-your-risk-heart-attack-and-stroke-know-facts
6. https://www.rxlist.com/coronary_heart_disease_medications/drug-class.htm
7. https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/abq1040
8. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease/family-history-and-heart-disease-stroke
9. https://uihc.org/health-topics/women-and-heart-disease-frequently-asked-questions
Common Heart Health Health Medications
Heart Health
Get the latest information on common prescription and over-the-counter heart health drugs.
The human heart is an incredible organ. It beats roughly 2.5 billion times over the course of an average lifetime. The steady flow of blood carries oxygen and nutrients to every part of the body. When it stops beating, every other organ in the body shuts down almost instantly. This tremendous heart work means the health of this organ is critical for survival and healthy living. In the United States, heart disease is the leading preventable cause of death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that one person dies every 36 seconds from cardiovascular disease, which claims approximately 655,000 lives each year.
Risk of Heart Disease
A person's chances of developing cardiovascular disease depends on many factors, including diet, exercise, smoking, genetics, and more. Age is one of the most common risk factors associated with heart disease. However, it is not guaranteed that everyone will have heart problems as they get older. It is possible to intervene with heart- healthy eating habits and other lifestyle changes. Talk to your doctor for more information or seek their guidance on making changes to your daily routine that can help protect your health and longevity.
You can reduce your chances of getting heart disease by living a heart-healthy lifestyle at a young age and making a long-term commitment to yourself. This includes keeping blood pressure and blood sugar levels under control as well as maintaining good cholesterol levels with regular check-ups. It also means eating a healthy diet with foods rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids.
The American Heart Association recommends an eating plan with a variety of nutritious foods from different food groups. Limiting foods with high fat content is a good way to keep cholesterol under control. The goal should be to use up as many calories as you take in. If you are overweight, you should try and lose weight to lower your chances of developing cardiovascular disease. They also recommend incorporating at least 30 minutes of exercise into your daily routine to raise your heart rate and improve cardiovascular strength.
Medications for Heart Disease
Some of the most common types of heart disease include high blood pressure and atherosclerosis (blocking of the arteries due to high cholesterol). There are various types of medications used to treat these symptoms or reduce the risk of heart disease. The most common cardiac drugs are listed below:
- Anticoagulants or blood thinners decrease clotting ability and are used to prevent clots from forming. They are often prescribed to prevent stroke and reduce the chances of a heart attack.
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors expand the blood vessels and allow easier flow to make the heart's work easier. These medications are used to treat symptoms of heart disease such as high blood pressure and heart failure.
- Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers or ARBs prevent the chemical angiotensin from affecting blood vessels. This keeps the blood flowing adequately and can help improve high blood pressure.
- Beta blockers are a commonly prescribed group of medications for heart disease. They decrease the strength of cardiac contraction and make the heart beat with less force, thus lowering blood pressure. They are also used to treat abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias. Beta blockers may help reduce the risk of a heart attack.
- Calcium Channel Blockers prevent the movement of calcium in the cardiovascular system, which helps reduce the pumping strength of the heart. Calcium channel blockers are used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain, and abnormal cardiac rhythms.
- Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs work by interrupting the formation of cholesterol and are used to lower the risk of heart disease.
- Diuretics, commonly called water pills, help the body get rid of excess fluid and reduce the workload on the heart. They are used to lower blood pressure.
- Vasodilators relax the blood vessels, improve blood flow, and decrease blood pressure. They are prescribed to people with angina (chest pain).
Over-the-Counter Medications and Blood Pressure
It is worth noting that some over-the-counter (OTC) medications like decongestants, cold and flu remedies, pain relievers, and antacids can raise your blood pressure or prevent your cardiac medication from working.
Over-the-Counter Medications for Heart Disease
Aspirin is a medication that can help reduce your chance of strokes and heart attacks when used daily. However, the daily use of aspirin is not advisable for everyone. It can result in serious side effects like bleeding and kidney failure. The American Heart Association recommends allowing a health professional to prescribe you aspirin if deemed appropriate.
Common Side Effects of Cardiac Medications
Each type of cardiac medication can have different side effects. Your doctor will tell which symptoms to report.
- Anticoagulants could cause bleeding and gangrene of the skin.
- ACE inhibitors could cause cough, low blood pressure, dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, and rash.
- Vasodilators could cause dizziness, headache, and irregular heart rate.
- Calcium channel blockers may cause nausea, constipation, headaches, rash, and low blood pressure.
Common Questions
How can I reduce my chances of developing heart problems? There are several ways to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. Both the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health recommend:
- Regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks
- Eating a healthy diet
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Participating in regular physical activity
- Quitting smoking
- Getting enough good quality sleep
Does my family history affect my chances of getting heart disease?
According to the American Heart Association, family history is strongly linked to risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Your doctor can give you additional information or tell you if you need a DNA test.
Are men more likely to die from heart disease?
Research on men and women’s health has shown that both genders have equal chances of suffering from heart disease. This condition is responsible for one in three deaths for both sexes, however, men tend to have heart attacks earlier in life than women--age 65 for men compared to age 72 for women. That said, risk factors other than gender play bigger roles in defining heart health.
References:
1. https://www.health.harvard.edu/topics/heart-health
2. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm
3. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/aha-diet-and-lifestyle-recommendations
4. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/treatment-of-a-heart-attack/cardiac-medications
5. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/safe-daily-use-aspirin/aspirin-reducing-your-risk-heart-attack-and-stroke-know-facts
6. https://www.rxlist.com/coronary_heart_disease_medications/drug-class.htm
7. https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/abq1040
8. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/what-is-cardiovascular-disease/family-history-and-heart-disease-stroke
9. https://uihc.org/health-topics/women-and-heart-disease-frequently-asked-questions
Common Heart Health Health Medications
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