There is no certain way of preventing heart attacks with drugs. The two most important ways of reducing the risk of a heart attack are not to smoke and not to be overweight. There is, however, no good or proven way in which drugs can help you stop smoking or lose weight. Lowering a raised … Read more
e.g., warfarin When blood clots form within the blood vessels they cause problems. a leg vein, causing swelling. An”arterial thrombosis” is a clot in an artery A “venous thrombosis” is a clot in a vein – this may happen, for example, in the circulation to lodge elsewhere; this is called an “embolus” – e.g., a … Read more
e.g., amiodarone, beta-blockers, digoxin, disopyramide, flecainide, mexiletine, tocainide, verapamil. Sometimes the heart beats too fast, usually because of an abnormal pattern of conduction across the heart, and often the best treatment is with a drug. The heart is its own time-keeper, and each beat is normally signalled by one specialised portion of the heart, the … Read more
(1) Angina. -Beta-blockers help to prevent angina on exertion or stress by reducing the work done by the heart. (2) High blood pressure. -Beta-blockers are widely used for lowering high blood pressure, though the way they work is still not fully understood. Treatment is commonly combined with diuretics. (3) Abnormal heart rhythms. -Beta-blockers, rather like … Read more
ege, acebutolol, atenolol, labetalol, metoprolol, nadolol, oxprenolol, pinderlol, propranolol, sotalol, timolol. These widely prescribed drugs “block” or reduce the action of adrenaline and related hormones in increasing the heart rate and the strength of the heart-beat and they will, therefore, slow the heart rate. Exercise or excitement increases the secretion of adrenaline and related hormones: … Read more
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE): Definition:Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) is a key enzyme in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) — a hormonal system that regulates blood pressure, fluid balance, and electrolyte levels. It plays a vital role in cardiovascular and kidney function by converting angiotensin I (an inactive peptide) into angiotensin II (a potent vasoconstrictor). Structure and … Read more
(1) Nitrates: e.g., glyceryl trinitrate, isosorbide dinitrate/mononitrate These dilate both arteries and veins, and are the longest established drugs for the treatment of angina. (2) Calcium antagonists: e.g., nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem These drugs interfere with the movement of calcium into muscle cells, so reducing the strength of contraction both of the muscle found in blood … Read more
(1) Heart failure. -In severe heart failure the arteries and arterioles may be more constricted than they need be, increasing the work load on the heart. Arterial vasodilators can then help by directly reducing the resistance against which the heart has to pump. Venous vasodilators (venodilators) help the veins carry an increased volume of blood … Read more
e.g., nitrates, calcium antagonists, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, hydralazine, prazosin. Put simply, vasodilators widen or open up blood vessels. With each heart-beat blood is pumped out into the large elastic arteries. These branch into smaller and smaller vessels called arterioles which convey it into the muscles and internal organs before it returns to the heart … Read more
(1) Heart failure-which simply means a reduction in the reserve capacity of the heart. This may be caused by a faulty valve in the heart, or by a weakening of the heart muscle itself. … Read more