Medications That Halt Heart Disease

Living with heart disease is scary, especially when you’re newly diagnosed. A healthy diet and exercise certainly help, but they’re not always enough to stop heart disease from wreaking havoc on your health.

At the Vein, Heart, and Vascular Institute, Dr. Hesham Fakhri specializes in heart disease and vascular health. He’s an experienced cardiologist who also offers medication management to keep your heart and body healthy.

Common heart disease medications

Heart disease is a serious set of problems that affect how the heart functions, but there are plenty of medications that help. Medications alleviate the issues of heart disease to improve function and reduce the risk of a coronary event.

We offer several different types of heart medications to halt heart disease in its tracks. The most common heart disease medications include:

Antiplatelet agents

Antiplatelet agents are medications that prevent platelets from clumping in the bloodstream. They prevent blood clots from forming in people with various forms of heart disease.

Calcium channel blockers

Calcium channel blockers are another common type of heart medication. They relax blood vessels and reduce the force of the heart’s contraction, thereby lowering blood pressure. They also treat angina from decreased blood flow to the heart muscle.

ACE inhibitors

ACE inhibitors help reduce blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels, widening them, and allowing blood to flow more easily. They also improve the heart's ability to pump blood throughout the body.

Beta blockers

Beta blockers lower blood pressure, treat angina, and reduce arrhythmias by slowing the heart rate and allowing the heart to beat more easily.

Statins

High cholesterol is a common risk factor for heart disease, but there are medications called statins that can help. These medications lower bad cholesterol, which reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other forms of heart disease.

Do I need medication management?

Most people with heart disease will need medication management at some point to control symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. If you have high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, or heart failure, medications are necessary to complement lifestyle changes.

Medications help to lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol, which reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. They also manage arrhythmia symptoms to prevent issues such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness.

People with multiple health issues, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or arrhythmias, may require multiple medications to alleviate symptoms and reduce the risk of severe complications.

Are medications enough?

Medications are extremely helpful for heart disease, but they’re not a substitute for a healthier lifestyle. We would like you to establish healthy habits while taking heart medications to lower the risk of negative symptoms.

A heart-healthy diet is a good place to start. Cut back on processed foods and those high in trans or saturated fats. Eat mostly whole foods, such as lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure.

A low-sodium diet is also crucial for people with high blood pressure. But diet isn’t the only option for improved heart health. Regular physical activity and stress management are also important to reduce the risk of cardiac events.

With regular exercise, healthy eating, and medications, we can help you control heart disease and live a long, healthy life.

Call us now or reach out online to schedule your consultation at one of our locations in Tampa, Wesley Chapel, or Sun City, Florida. Take the first step toward stopping heart disease today.