Medical Therapy
Medication for coronary heart disease and heart failure
Coronary heart disease and heart failure are common heart conditions that can be treated with medication and surgery. You can find out below which medication is suitable and how it is used.
Which medication will I be given for coronary heart disease (CHD)?
The most important drugs in the treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD) are so-called antiplatelet drugs and statins.
Antiplatelet drugs
Antiplatelet drugs (often also called anticoagulants) prevent platelets in the blood from attaching to any deposits that have formed in the blood vessels. When platelets adhere and build-up in this way, it is called a thrombus, and these are a common cause of heart attacks. Antiplatelet drugs are therefore important for keeping the coronary arteries free of thrombi and preventing a heart attack. The active ingredient acetylsalicylic acid is most commonly used as an antiplatelet drug. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to acetylsalicylic acid. There are alternative medicines available, such as clopidogrel.
Statins
Statins improve the blood lipid profile by regulating the formation of cholesterol. This prevents the formation of further plaques. These drugs also keep the vessels free of deposits and complement the effects of antiplatelet drugs.
Other procedures for the treatment of CHD
If several coronary vessels are affected or there is severe narrowing, a so-called revascularisation procedure may be necessary in addition to drug therapy. This involves keeping the narrowed or blocked coronary vessel open with a stent or circumventing it with a bypass.
Which medication will I be given for heart failure?
Heart failure (cardiac insufficiency) due to damaged heart muscle cannot be cured. This damage can be caused, for example, by coronary heart disease, when the heart can no longer be supplied with enough oxygen-rich blood. Nevertheless, it is possible to maintain a good quality of life with individually-tailored medical therapy.
Heart failure – Breaking the vicious cycle
Medication for heart failure is used to try to break the vicious cycle of the disease. This downward spiral begins as the body tries to compensate for the weakened heart's reduced output. Vessels constrict, becoming narrower so that blood can flow faster. An undesirable side effect of this is that blood pressure rises and the heart has to work even harder to transport the same amount of blood. This exertion further weakens the diseased heart, and this means the blood pressure has to be increased even more. This downward spiral has to be broken.
Heart failure – Breaking the vicious cycle
Medication for heart failure is used to try to break the vicious cycle of the disease. This downward spiral begins as the body tries to compensate for the weakened heart's reduced output. Vessels constrict, becoming narrower so that blood can flow faster. An undesirable side effect of this is that blood pressure rises and the heart has to work even harder to transport the same amount of blood. This exertion further weakens the diseased heart, and this means the blood pressure has to be increased even more. This downward spiral has to be broken.
Heart failure – How can symptoms be alleviated?
Water retention in the limbs or even in the lungs is common with heart failure. They are treated with so-called diuretics. These medicines promote urination and are often combined directly with other heart medication. In addition to the water balance, they also influence the body’s electrolyte balance. Together with your doctor, it is important to determine an exact dosage of diuretics to prevent undesirable effects. A deficiency in the electrolyte potassium, for example, can lead to dangerous complications such as cardiac arrhythmias. In addition, the amount of water consumed each day should be regulated so that the body does not have too much or too little water available.
Undesirable effects of heart medication
Your doctor knows which medication should be used for you, and can also give you more detailed information about how it works. Every effective drug can have undesirable effects, as the example of diuretics shows. You can find more examples in the package leaflet with your medication. It lists exactly how often each side effect is to be expected. Undesirable effects are normal and can be reduced by carefully adjusting the dosage. Your doctor will prescribe the medication in the amount that ensures a balance between the best possible positive effects and the least possible undesirable effects. Take all medicines as recommended by your doctor. If you are unsure, they will be happy to provide you with more information.
Further treatment options
In addition to treatment with medication, there are also surgical and interventional options for treating heart disease. One of the most common procedures is the insertion of stents to keep vessels open.
NPS-2563