Heart Medications
The development of these medications have helped dramatically decrease death rates from cardiovascular disease in the United States and other developed countries.
Heart Medications Articles
The side effects of some blood pressure medications can leave people dizzy or lightheaded. But these medications do not appear to increase the risk of falling among older people.
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For people with heart disease, donating blood is usually safe, provided they have no activity restrictions or have experienced a heart-related event within the past six months. Those who take anti-clotting medications should not give blood.
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High cholesterol, in particular high low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the so-called bad cholesterol, is a key cause of heart disease. A large clinical trial called IMPROVE-IT set out in 2005 to answer two key questions about LDL:
The results of IMPROVE-IT were recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Dr. Deepak L. Bhatt, Editor in Chief of the Harvard Heart Letter, talked about the significance of the IMPROVE-IT findings with Dr. Christopher P. Cannon, the trial's lead investigator, and Dr. John A. Jarcho, an editor of The New England Journal of Medicine.
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For older adults with high blood pressure, taking acetaminophen does not appear to elevate heart disease risk, even among those who take the popular painkiller frequently.
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A study in Norway found that weight gain was directly tied to experiencing new chronic heartburn symptoms. Losing weight is the long-term solution to heartburn, though acid-reducing medication soothes symptoms in the short run.
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It appears that people with high blood pressure who take folate along with the blood pressure medicine enalapril (Vasotec) may be less likely to have a stroke than people who take enalapril alone.
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Pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac that surrounds the heart, causes a sharp, stabbing pain in the chest. Ibuprofen or similar anti-inflammatory drugs can help, and the condition usually resolves within two weeks.
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For people with high blood pressure, beta blockers are no longer a first line of defense. Research has shown that other medications are more effective at reducing blood pressure—particularly angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), calcium-channel blockers, and diuretics. However, beta blockers are still commonly prescribed to people who’ve had a heart attack, and to people with heart failure or an irregular heartbeat. Beta blocker use may result in side effects such as fatigue and erectile dysfunction.
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A study found that taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain relievers like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) can increase risk of internal bleeding in people with atrial fibrillation who take blood thinners.
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Orthostatic hypotension is a drop in blood pressure when standing up from a sitting or lying position. With aging, the body may be less able to quickly compensate for such drops in blood pressure. Medications and dehydration can contribute. For mild cases, adjusting medications, drinking enough water, and rising slowly can solve the problem. If it ever leads to loss of consciousness or a fall, it can be dangerous. In severe cases, medication may be necessary.
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