Coronary artery disease generally has three treatment paths, depending on the severity of the situation. While lifestyle changes are indicated in every situation, it sometimes takes more than that to fix the problem. Doctors can also prescribe medications to their patients who have more advanced coronary artery disease.
1. Aspirin
The risks and perks of taking aspirin vary from one person to another, so while it may seem harmless, you should avoid taking it without talking to your doctor first. Aspirin is actually an important part of avoiding a heart attack in people who have already experienced one.
Aspirin causes blood to become thinner, so it’s not really recommended unless you’ve previously had a heart attack. There are also several complications that could arise from taking aspirin without a doctor’s recommendation.
- Some people are allergic to aspirin, but you can also have an intolerance.
- Aspirin isn’t suited for people who are about to undergo dental procedures.
- It should never be combined with alcohol.
- People who are at risk of hemorrhagic stroke or gastrointestinal bleeding should also avoid aspirin.
Aspirin is efficient in preventing a heart attack caused by coronary artery disease because it thins blood, making it less likely for blood clots to be formed. As you know, cholesterol plaques attach to the walls of the arteries. When these plaques rupture, you are at risk of developing blood clots, which cause coronary artery disease to get worse.
2. Beta blockers
People who have coronary artery disease are very likely to have their hearts beating faster. Beta blockers are usually prescribed to lower blood pressure, which also causes the heart to pump at a slower pace.
Aside from that, beta blockers can also help treat angina, which is chest pain induced by a heart-related problem. They are a very common prescription for people who have suffered a heart attack, and they are also part of a lifetime treatment that can prevent another one.
3. Calcium channel blockers
Calcium channel blockers are also a popular medical treatment for coronary artery disease. They help by making sure that the coronary arteries are dilated, facilitating blood flow to the heart. They can also lower blood pressure, which prevents the heart from overloading because it tries to pump too much blood. These drugs can also prevent coronary artery spasms, as well as control arrhythmias.
Calcium channel blockers are prescribed to ease angina symptoms, but also to lower blood pressure, having benefits similar to a beta blocker treatment. Some of the rare side effects of these drugs include constipation, diarrhea, flushing, or dizziness.
4. Cholesterol medication
Coronary artery disease debutes with too much cholesterol in the bloodstream. When this happens, the excess cholesterol sticks to the walls of the arteries, causing a build-up that will restrict blood flow in time. Because of that, lowering bad cholesterol levels is an important part of helping treat coronary artery disease. Once your doctor carefully assessed your current health situation, they will likely choose to prescribe the cholesterol-lowering medication that works best for you, and which includes popular classes of drugs, such as fibrates, resins, or statins.
5. Nitroglycerin
If you know your way around cholesterol-lowering medication, you might have heard about nitrates, a class of drugs prescribed to patients who have problems with elevated cholesterol levels. Nitroglycerin is a specific drug that belongs to the nitrate class, and which is prescribed to treat coronary artery disease-related chest pain.
Some side effects are to be expected when taking this particular type of drugs, but not all side effects are reason for panic. For example, if you’re taking a nitroglycerin-based treatment and you’re having headaches, it’s a sign that the medication is working. If your headaches are severe, doctors can recommend some over-the-counter painkillers, such as aspirin.
While common side effects include headaches, nausea, and dizziness, some more uncommon ones are irregular heartbeats and fainting. If the latter ones occur, consider talking to your doctor about these reactions.
6. Ranolazine
Another type of drug which is used to treat angina is ranolazine. It is often the go-to solution for doctors who are looking to help their patients with chronic angina. However, this drug does not alleviate chest pain on the spot, so it’s not a drug that should be taken in case of an emergency.
Ranolazine is a drug that’s very useful in treating coronary artery disease, but one must always be prepared for the potential side effects of this, or any other class of drugs. Experiencing dizziness while taking this drug is quite common. The less common side effects include difficulty in breathing, bloating of the limbs or the face, tinnitus, irregular heartbeats, rapid and unusual weight loss/gain, or tightness in the chest.
Conclusion
It’s also important to take your treatment exactly in the dosage and at the time intervals prescribed by your doctor. Make sure that while you are on medication, you avoid adding any over-the-counter drugs to the mix, as they may interact with some of the meds you’re already taking.