Which medications can help prevent a heart attack?
There are a variety of different medications that may help you prevent a heart attack. The medications your doctor recommends will depend on your medical history and risk factors for a heart attack.
The types of medications you may be prescribed include:
- medications to treat medical conditions that increase your risk of a heart attack, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes
- medications that reduce the risk of blood clots (which can cause heart attacks), such as:
- Antiplatelet agents (e.g., acetylsalicylic acid, clopidogrel, prasugrel, and ticagrelor): can help reduce the risk of a heart attack by making platelets not stick together to form blood clots in the arteries
- Anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin, heparin and rivaroxaban, etc.): may be used to help reduce the risk of a developing blood clots by inhibiting clotting factors
What do many people do wrong when managing their medications?
Despite the fact that medications are so important in preventing a heart attack, many people do not take their medications as recommended by their doctor. People may forget to take their medication, take less or more than their doctor recommended, or decide to stop taking the medication entirely. This means that they will not receive the full benefits of the medication.
What can I do to make it easier to manage my medications?
Use these tips to help you manage your medications:
- Know your medication. Make sure you understand what it's for, how to take it, and what side effects to expect. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you're not sure.
- Make it part of your routine. Take your medication at the same time as another activity you do regularly. Check with your pharmacist to see if your medication has special instructions (e.g., take with food, take on an empty stomach, take at bedtime), and if so, choose an activity that matches with these instructions.
- Simplify. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about ways that your medication routine could be simplified.
- Use tools. Ask your pharmacist about tools like weekly pill organizers, blister packs, or alarms to help you remember your medication.
- Watch your numbers. Get regular medical tests as recommended by your doctor. Seeing the difference your medication makes in your test results (e.g., improved blood pressure, cholesterol, or blood sugar) can offer a powerful reminder of how your medication is helping "behind the scenes" to reduce your risk of a heart attack.
- Attend your follow-up appointments. Do not miss your follow-up appointments and help your doctor keep track of your health conditions.
- Get support. Connecting with others who are in the same boat and getting support from loved ones can help you cope. Speak up about your concerns. If there's something that worries you about your medication, your doctor or pharmacist can help address your concerns.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Medications-to-Help-Prevent-a-Heart-Attack
