Definition
"Coronary artery disease" is a term taken from the medical language indicating a generic pathology affecting the coronaries, arteries of small and medium caliber deputed to spraying and nourishing the heart muscle. In general, coronary heart disease is the expression, more often than not, of an obstruction of the arteries, caused in turn by the presence of atheromas (cholesterol deposition) or thrombi (blood clot).
Causes
The main factor causing Coronary artery disease is the deposition of cholesterol in the arteries, which hinders the physiological blood flow, creating inflammation; consequently, oxygen does not reach the heart, causing damage. Some tumors and some chest radiotherapy may also predict coronary heart disease.
- Risk factors: unbalanced diet, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, genetic predisposition, sedentary lifestyle, smoking
Symptoms
Coronary heart disease can remain silent for many years, so that the patient who is affected, not perceiving any symptoms, does not realize the pathology in place. When the atheroma reaches considerable dimensions, the patient complains of anxiety, heartburn, heart disease, weakness, pain in the chest and abdomen, sweating: the symptomatology described above largely reflects that of angina pectoris, and can degenerate into a myocardial infarction or sudden death.
Information on coronary heart disease - drugs for the treatment of coronary heart disease is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Coronary artery disease - Coronary heart disease drugs.
drugs
The urgency of medical aid for the treatment of coronary heart disease is comparable to that analyzed for angina pectoris and myocardial infarction, since a coronary artery disease can also be fatal for the patient. In these terms, the need to prevent the disease is well understood: once again - for the umpteenth time - the prevention of coronary heart disease is the only winning weapon for treating the disease.
Depending on the general health of the patient, it may be necessary to administer drugs for the heart, for obesity, for hypertension and for hypercholesterolemia, in addition to following a healthy and balanced diet, free from excess and physical exercise constant.
If these preventive strategies for coronary artery disease are not sufficient, the patient can undergo more or less invasive surgery:
- Cardiac catheterization
- angioplasty
- Positioning of intravascular coronary stents
- Insertion of a coronary bypass
- Cardiac rehabilitation, which aims to inform the patient about heart disease, drugs and strategies necessary to avoid a degeneration of the disease
Now let's see in more detail which drugs can be used in therapy for the prevention of coronary heart disease:
Antiplatelet and anti-growth drugs : they are useful to prevent the platelets from forming clots on the walls of the arteries, so the flow of blood finds no obstacles and reaches the heart.
- Acetylsalicylic acid (eg. Aspirin, Cardioaspirin, Aspirinetta): for the prevention of coronary heart disease, it is recommended to administer the drug at a dose ranging from 75 to 325 mg, orally, every day. Generally, therapy must be continued throughout life.
- Heparin (eg. Heparin Cal Acv, Heparin Sod.Ath, Ateroclar, Trombolisin): indicatively, for the prophylaxis of coronary heart disease, take 5000 IU of drug once a day (bolus infusion), followed by 1000 units per hour (for continuous infusion). Consult your doctor.
- Dalteparin (eg Fragmin) should be taken subcutaneously, and requires a reduced frequency of administration compared to heparin (common): the drug is available in doses ranging from 2500IU / 0.2ml, up to 18000IU / 0.72 ml. The dosage for the treatment and prophylaxis of coronary heart disease is exclusively medical.
- Warfarin (eg. Coumadin): possibly associated with acetylsalicylic acid. When used in monoterpy, the risk of bleeding increases enormously. Start the therapy with a dose of drug varying from 2 to 5 mg, to be taken orally or intravenously, once a day for 1-2 days; subsequently, the dose must be perfected by the doctor based on the patient's general state of health and his response to treatment. The maintenance dose involves taking 2-10 mg of the drug a day. Do not continue the therapy for too long a time. Consult your doctor.
Blood thinners : by keeping the blood fluid, these drugs also hinder the formation of clots which, as we know, could generate heart attacks, strokes or, in the most serious cases, death.
ACE inhibitors : indicated for the treatment of hypertension in the prophylaxis of coronary heart disease. The administration of these drugs is indicated to keep blood vessels dilated, thus avoiding the risk of occlusion; in this way, oxygen-rich blood reaches the heart.
In general, patients at risk of coronary heart disease are also affected by hypertension: according to this, it is well understood that an antihypertensive treatment is indispensable to control blood pressure, and therefore also to escape coronary heart disease.
For further information: read the article on drugs for the treatment of hypertension
Nitroderivatives : for the prevention of coronary heart disease, the administration of nitroglycerin and nitroderivatives is of primary necessity, since these active substances relax the arteries, so the heart receives more oxygen. Furthermore, nitroglycerin is indicated to reduce chest pain (a typical symptom of angina).
- Nitroglycerin (eg Venitrin T for infusion, Trinitrina for infusion, Natispray Spray, Triniplas plasters, Trinitrina coated tablets): by temporarily dilating the arterial blood vessels, it improves the blood supply to the heart, reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. The dosage must be established by the doctor.
In therapy for the prevention of coronary diseases, drugs such as Isosorbide dinitrate (eg Carvasin, Dinike, Nitrosorbide) and Isosorbide mononitrate (eg Duronitrin, Elan, Ismo Diffutab, Ismo-20, Leicester, Monocinque, can be used) Monoket, Vasdilat), most used, however, in the treatment for angina pectoris.
Anti-cholesterol-lowering drugs : the formation of atheromas is a serious risk element for coronary heart disease, therefore the administration of specific drugs is fundamental:
- fibrates
- Statins
- Selective inhibitors of intestinal cholesterol absorption
- Niacin
- Bile acid sequestering resins
For further information: see the article on drugs for the treatment of high cholesterol
Hypoglycemic drugs : Antidiabetic drugs reduce blood sugar, helping the body to direct the sugar to the cells and to the places where the energy is required. Even the administration of these drugs is among the rules for the prevention of coronary heart disease.
