Medications

If you have heart disease, you may be given medications. Depending on your risk factors and the nature of your disease, you could be asked to take any of the following drugs:

• Statins are the most common type of drug for treating high LDL cholesterol. Other types of drugs for the same purpose include bile acid sequestrants, nicotinic acid, fibric acids, and lipoprotein antioxidants.
• Nitrates are fast-acting drugs that cause blood vessels to dilate (enlarge) in order to relieve the symptoms of angina (heart pain). Nitroglycerine is the most well-known example.
• Beta-blockers slow the heart rate and reduce the heart muscle’s demand for oxygen. They are used to treat angina, high blood pressure, and abnormal heart rhythms.
• Calcium-channel blockers reduce the workload on the heart. They are used to treat high blood pressure, angina, and abnormal heart rhythms.
• ACE inhibitors lower the blood pressure. They are used to treat high blood pressure and to slow the progress of heart failure.
• Diuretics remove excess fluid from the bloodstream. They are used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure.
• Aspirin inhibits blood clotting. It can help prevent heart attacks in people with CHD.
• Thrombolytics are known as “clot busters.” They are often given soon after a heart attack to remove the blockage that caused it.