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... ot a frank heart attack. The condition is stabilized with antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, nitrates and beta blockers. Diagnostically, an angiogram or (after stabilization) a stress test is often performed to confirm whether or not the presenting symptoms were truly from the heart and if so, whether an angioplasty or bypass operation is needed.
RETURN TO TOP -V- Varicose Veins-These are dilated veins in the legs that do not drain the blood out of the legs properly. They occur with aging and are accelerated by pregnancy and phlebitis (deep venous thrombosis). The main symptoms are leg swelling, aching in the calves with standing, a skin rash on the legs and a breakdown of the skin near the ankles. The first treatment is usually leg elevation and elastic stockings. Swelling that does not respond to these measure may respond to diuretics. Finally, surgical vein stripping can be performed.
Ventricle-The two lower chambers of the heart are called the right and left ventricles and the two upper chambers are called the right and left atria. See the discussion of Atrium above for a discussion of how the 4 valves and chambers of the heart work together. Ventricular Premature Beats-An isolated, early or premature beat that arises from the lower chambers of the heart, the ventricles. By itself, it is often quite benign. If it causes palpitations that are frequent or intolerable, they can be suppressed by beta blockers or other antiarrhythmic medications.
Ventricular Tachycardia-This is a rapid heart beat generated from an abnormal electrical site in the ventricles. In association with certain other heart diseases, its presence confers an increased risk of fainting or dying. In these situations, it can be treated with antiarrhythmic medications or cardioverters / defibrillators . HEART MEDICATIONS To find a specific medication by its brand or chemical name, use our search engine. ACE INHIBITORS ANGIOTENSIN BLOCKERS ANGINA MEDICATIONS ANTIARRHYTHMIC AGENTS ANTICOAGULANTS ANTIPLATELET AGENTS BETA BLOCKERS BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATIONS CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS CHOLESTEROL AND TRIGLYCERIDE LOWERING MEDICATIONS CLOT DISSOLVING AGENTS DIGOXIN DIURETICS HEART FAILURE MEDICATIONS HEART ATTACK SURVIVORS NITRATES MEDICATION SIDE EFFECTS MEDICATION ACE INHIBITORS CHEMICAL NAME BRAND NAME (S) BENAZEPRIL LOTENSIN, LOTENSIN HCT, LOTREL (in combination with AMLODIPINE) CAPTOPRIL CAPTOTEN, CAPOZIDE ENALAPRIL VASOTEC, VASERETIC, LEXXEL (in combination with FELODIPINE), TECZEM (in combination with DILTIAZEM) FOSINOPRIL MONOPRIL, MONOPRIL HCT LISINOPRIL PRINIVIL, PRINIZIDE, ZESTRIL, ZESTORETIC MOEXIPRIL UNIVASC, UNIRETIC PERINDOPRIL ACEON QUINAPRIL ACCUPRIL, ACCURETIC RAMIPRIL ALTACE, TRITACE TRANDOLAPRIL MAVIK, TARKA (in combination with VERAPAMIL) These are in combination with a thiazine diuretic. USES OF ACE INHIBITORS o TREATMENT OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE o TREATMENT OF HEART FAILURE o PROLONGING SURVIVAL OF PATIENTS WHO HAVE HAD A HEART ATTACK o PREVENTING DEATHS, HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES IN PATIENTS WITH VASCULAR DISEASE AND IN DIABETICS WITH OTHER VASCULAR RISK FACTORS o PROLONGING SURVIVAL OF PATIENTS WITH WEAK HEART MUSCLE o HELPING LEAKING HEART VALVES o PRESERVING KIDNEY FUNCTION IN DIABETICS ACE stands for Angiotensin Converting Enzyme.
This enzyme in our bodies activates a hormone called angiotensin. Once activated, this causes blood vessels to constrict. This results in high blood pressure and a strain on the heart. ACE inhibitors inhibit ACE and prevent the activation of angiotensin. This results in dilated blood vessels and a lower blood pressure. Even in people with normal blood pressure, blocking the activation of angiotensin and dilating blood vessels is effective for treatment of the other conditions listed above.
One side effect of these generally well tolerated agents is a persistant dry cough. If this happens, one can substitute one of the angiotensin blockers. These don't share this side effect but are similar in that they block the effects of angiotensin. Paradoxically, even though ACE inhibitors preserve kidney function in diabetics, they may cause kidney function to worsen at time. They may also raise the level of potassium in the blood. Angiotensin blockers share these same side effects.
If these side effects develop in someone with heart failure, the combination of nitrates and hydrazine is used instead. They have an anti inflammatory effect on the walls of the blood vessels. ANGIOTENSIN RECEPTOR BLOCKERS CHEMICAL NAME BRAND NAME (S) CANDESARTAN ATACAND, ATACAND HCT EPROSARTAN TEVETEN IRBESARTAN AVALIDE, AVAPRO LOSARTAN COZAAR, HYZAAR OLMESARTAN BENICAR, BENICAR HCT TASOSARTAN VERDIA TELMISARTAN MICARDIS VALSARTAN DIOVAN, DIOVAN HCT in combination with a thiazine diuretic. USES OF ANGIOTENSIN RECEPTOR BLOCKERS o TREATMENT OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE o TREATMENT OF HEART FAILURE o PREVENTION OF KIDNEY FAILURE IN DIABETICS Angiotensin is a hormone that causes blood vessels to constrict. This results in high blood pressure and a strain on the heart.
Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) prevent angiotensin from binding to its receptor in the walls of the blood vessels. This results in a lower blood pressure. Even in people with normal blood pressure, blocking the activation of angiotensin is effective for treatment of heart failure. Note the similarity between how these work and how the ACE inhibitors work. Unlike the ACE inhibitors, angiotensin blockers do not cause a cough as a side effect. These are often substituted for ACE inhibitors when a cough develops in someone who is otherwise benefitting from the ACE inhibitor.
They can either help or adversely affect kidney function and raise the potassium level just as ACE inhibitors may do. They have an anti inflammatory effect on the walls of the blood vessels. ANGINA MEDICATIONS Angina medications control the symptoms of angina caused by blocked or narrowed coronary arteries. It is important to note that they do not make the narrowings or blockages go away. Only bypass surgery and angioplasty procedures can resolve the blockages. Risk factor modification helps prevent the narrowings from getting worse and may help them get a little better with time.
Patients with angina are commonly treated with aspirin. This does not help the angina but it does help prevent the narrowings in the arteries from progressing to a full blown heart attack. Medications to prevent angina from occuring include: o Long Acting Nitrates o Beta Blockers o Calcium Channel Blockers Sublingual nitroglycerine tablets or spray are used to relieve an episode of angina that may occur despite taking the preventative medicines listed above. They are taken every 5 minutes. It is generally recommended that the patient call 911 if the angina is not fully relieved by the third dose or if it frequently reoccurs. Lowering the serum cholesterol level in all patients and supplemental hormones in post-menopausal women helps the arteries of the heart dilate is response to stress.
It is possible that these effects may help relieve angina as well. These issues are currently the subject of research studies. ANTIARRHYTHMIC AGENTS CHEMICAL NAME BRAND NAME (S) ADENOSINE ADENOCARD (intravenous use only) AMIODARONE CORDARONE, PACERONE AZIMILIDE BRETYLIUM BRETYLIUM (intravenous use only) DIISOPYRAMIDE NORPACE DOFETILIDE TIKOSYN FLECAINIDE TAMBOCOR IBUTILIDE CORVERT (intravenous use only) LIDOCAINE XYLOCAINE (intravenous use only) MEXILITINE MEXITIL MORICIZINE ETHMOZINE PROCAINAMIDE PROCAN, PROCANBID, PRONESTYL PROPAFENONE RYTHMOL QUINIDINE CARDIOQUIN, QUINAGLUTE, QUINIDEX SOTOLOL BETAPACE TOCAININDE TONOCARD Beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and digoxin are usually the first line treatment for many abnormally fast heart rhythms. These medications are usually quite well tolerated by most patients.
The medicines listed in the table above are usually reserved for some life threatening fast heart rhythms or those that do not respond to beta blockers, calcium blockers or digoxin. The trouble with the medicines listed on this page is that they may have serious and / or frequent side effects and the abnormal heart rhythm may reoccur despite the medication. Other alternatives for treating fast heart rhythms include radiofrequency ablation and the cardioverter / defibrillator . There are no medications to treat abnormally slow heart rhythms. These require the placement of a pacemaker. Some of the medicines listed on this page may cause a slow heart rate as a side effect.
If the medicine is really needed to treat episodes of fast heart rhythms and cannot be discontinued, a pacemaker may need to be implanted so that the medication can be safely continued. There are many different types of abnormally fast heart rhythms and each is treated differently. It is very helpful for the doctor to see an ECG or a monitor recording done during the abnormal heart rhythm so that the correct treatment is prescribed. ARRHYTHMI ANTICOAGULANTS DISCLAIMER: THIS PAGE CONTAINS A GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DISCUSSION ON THE ABOVE TOPIC. IT IS NOT HEALTH ADVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS SUCH. YOU SHOULD NEVER RELY UPON THE INFORMATION GIVEN HERE.
YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES MAY WELL REQUIRE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT APPROACH. YOU SHOULD NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES IN YOUR MEDICATIONS, DIET, ACTIVITY, LIFESTYLE, ETC. WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING A LICENSED PHYSICIAN IN YOUR AREA. Blood clotting is good when we cut ourselves or get into an accident.
However, a lot of cardiovascular problems arise from blood clotting inappropriately in blood vessels or the chambers of the heart. Doctors use blood thinning agent to prevent this inappropriate clotting without causing excessive bleeding as a side effect. There are 2 systems in the blood that promote clotting, platelets and the coagulation system. The coagulation system consists of a large number of protein molecules that circulate in the blood. Anticoagulants interfere with any one of a number of these proteins to produce powerful blood thinning effects. They help prevent blood clots from forming and help stabilize and slowly dissolve those that have already formed.
Clot dissolving agents (thrombolytic agents) rapidly dissolve blood clots. Intravenous heparin achieves an immediate anticoagulant effect and is useful for treating and stabilizing patients with blood clots on the legs (phlebitis) or the lung (pulmonary embolus) as well as patients with unstable angina or a heart attack. These latter 2 conditions are contributed to by blood clots in the coronary arteries. Heparin is also used to prevent blood clotting during procedures such as cardiac catheterization's, angioplasties and open heart surgery. Heparin can also be used a substitute for oral anticoagulants in patients who are unable to take medication orally. The only oral anticoagulant, coumadin, cannot be given to pregnant women during certain parts of their pregnancy (particularly the first trimester) as it can cause birth defects.
Heparin can be used in its place as heparin has not been associated with birth defects. Use of intravenous heparin must be monitored closely by blood tests. Lower doses of heparin are used subcutaneously to prevent blood clots from forming in leg veins when hospitalized patients are unable to walk. There are related medicines available called low molecular weight heparin's. These include enoxaparin (Love nox), dalteparin (Fragmin), ardeparin (Normiflo), nadroparin (Fraxiparine), reviparin (Clivarine) and tinzaparin (Inno hep). These are usually administered subcutaneously and appear to be at least as effective and safe as heparin.
Unlike heparin, they do not require blood tests for monitoring. Another class of blood thinning medicine thinning medicine is fodaparinux (Ari xtra). This appears to be even superior to the low molecular weight heparin's. Another substance, known as a heparin oid, goes by the name of danaproid (Or garan). This has been used to treat a rare side effect of heparin, called heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).
And finally, there is a medicine called lepirudin (Refludan). This is related to the substance secreted by the leeches (Hired medicinal) used by physicians in the past to bleed patients. It too inhibits the coagulation system. You will be relieved to know this medicine can now be administered without applying a leech to your body! It is produced using recombinant DNA technology and administered intravenously. It is currently indicated to treat HIT and is being investigated for other cardiovascular uses as well.
A related medicine, bivalirudin (Angiomax) can be used as a blood thinner in place of heparin during angioplasty procedures. An amino acid derivative, argatroban, can also be used to treat HIT. Argatroban is also being investigated for use in cardiac procedures and in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction's and HIT. The only oral anticoagulant is coumadin. This is given for several months after a person has had a blood clot in a leg vein or the lung and sometimes after a heart attack as well. People with mechanical heart valves and many patients with atrial fibrillation or blood clots in their heart chambers must remain on coumadin chronically to prevent strokes.
Some people have unusually thick blood due to abnormal coagulation proteins and also must remain on coumadin permanently. Treatment with coumadin requires periodic monitoring with blood tests. Doctors used to measure something called the prothrombin time or 'pro-time' but we now measure a more accurate indicator of blood thinning called the International Normalized Ratio (INR). The main side effect with coumadin is an increased risk of bleeding. Many medications interact with coumadin. It is prudent to check the INR more frequently when other medications are added or withdrawn.
Coumadin works by interfering with the effect of vitamin K. Vitamin K is used by the liver to make some of the coagulation proteins. Excess vitamin K will offset the effect of coumadin. However, contrary to popular belief, people on coumadin do not have to avoid foods with vitamin K.
The dose of coumadin can be adjusted for any level of dietary vitamin K intake. However, it is important to eat the same amount of vitamin K containing foods all the time so that the level of blood thinning remains stable. Vitamin K is found in vegetables, particularly the green leafy vegetables. ANTIPLATELET AGENTS DISCLAIMER: THIS PAGE CONTAINS A GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DISCUSSION ON THE ABOVE TOPIC. IT IS NOT HEALTH ADVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS SUCH. YOU SHOULD NEVER RELY UPON THE INFORMATION GIVEN HERE.
YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES MAY WELL REQUIRE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT APPROACH. YOU SHOULD NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES IN YOUR MEDICATIONS, DIET, ACTIVITY, LIFESTYLE, ETC. WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING A LICENSED PHYSICIAN IN YOUR AREA. CHEMICAL NAME BRAND NAME (S) CYCLOOXYGENASE INHIBITORS ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID ASPIRIN, AGGRENOX (in combination with dipyridimole) ADP INHIBITORS CLOPIDOGREL PLAVIX TICLOPDIPINE TICLID PHOSPHODIESTERASE III INHIBITORS CILOSTAZOL PLETAL GLYCOPROTEIN IIB/IIIA INHIBITORS ABCIXIMAB RHEOPRO EPTIFIBATIDE INTEGRILIN TIROFIBAN AGGRASTAT ADENOSINE REUPTAKE INHIBITORS DIPYRIDIMOLE PERSANTINE, AGGRENOX (in combination with aspirin) Blood clotting is good when we cut ourselves or get into an accident.
However, a lot of cardiovascular problems arise from blood clotting inappropriately in blood vessels or the chambers of the heart. Doctors use blood thinning agent to prevent this inappropriate clotting without causing excessive bleeding as a side effect. There are 2 systems in the blood that promote clotting, platelets and the coagulation system. Platelets are s
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