Page 39 - Mended Hearts-HeartGuide

MEDICINES

Anticoagulants By reducing your blood’s ability to clot, these prevent blood clots or prevent existing clots
from getting larger.
ACE-Inhibitors and These affect a hormone called angiotensin-II in your body and can lower your blood
Angiotensin Receptor pressure and reduce the stress on your heart.
Blockers (ARBs)
Antiplatelet Agents These prevent clotting caused by sticky platelets in your blood and reduce the chance of
heart attack and stroke caused by clots. They also help keep stents open.

Beta-Blockers Used to lower blood pressure, fix abnormal heart beats (arrhythmias), and treat angina,
these lessen the work your heart has to do by, among other things, decreasing your heart
Calcium Channel rate and relaxing your blood vessels.
Blockers
Digitalis Often prescribed to treat high blood pressure, angina, and coronary artery spasms, these
Diuretics (“Water Pills”) reduce the flow of calcium into your heart muscle and blood vessels, lowering blood
Nitrates and pressure and putting less strain on your heart. Some also decrease heart rate.
Antianginal Agents
Statins Typically prescribed to treat certain types of irregular heart rhythms or the symptoms of
heart failure, this increases the heart’s pumping function and slows heart rate.

Used to treat high blood pressure or heart failure, these help your body remove excess
fluid and salt buildup through increased urination.

These agents—of which nitrates are the most common—are used to prevent, diminish,
or relieve angina discomfort by increasing the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart
and relaxing your blood vessels.

Statins help lower your cholesterol level (also see page 37).

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