Definition
"Coronary artery disease" is a term extracted from medical language indicating a generic pathology affecting the coronary arteries, small and medium caliber arteries responsible for the "blood supply and nourishment of the heart muscle. In general, coronary artery diseases are an expression, most of the time, of a "blockage 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 can also predispose to 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 the patient who is affected, not perceiving any symptoms, is not aware of the pathology in progress. When the atheroma reaches a considerable size, the patient complains of anguish, heartburn, heartbeat, weakness, pain in the chest and abdomen, sweating: the symptomatological picture just described largely mirrors 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 Heart Disease - Drugs for the Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease.
Medicines
The urgency of medical aid for the treatment of coronary artery disease is comparable to that analyzed for angina pectoris and myocardial infarction, since a coronary artery disease can also be fatal for the patient. need to prevent disease: 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 of excesses and physical exercise. constant.
If these preventive strategies for coronary artery disease are not sufficient, the patient can undergo a more or less invasive surgery:
- Cardiac catheterization
- Angioplasty
- Placement of intravascular coronary stents
- Inserting a coronary artery bypass graft
- Cardiac rehabilitation, which aims to inform the patient about heart disease, drugs and strategies essential to avoid a degeneration of the pathology
Now let's see in more detail which drugs can be used in therapy for the prevention of coronary heart disease:
The following are the classes of drugs most used in the therapy against coronary heart disease, and some examples of pharmacological specialties; it is up to the doctor to choose the most suitable active ingredient and dosage for the patient, based on the severity of the disease, the state of health of the patient and his response to treatment:
Antiplatelet and anticogulant drugs: they are useful to prevent platelets from creating clots on the walls of the arteries, so the flow of blood is unobstructed 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 variable dosage of 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 2500UI / 0.2 ml, up to 18000UI / 0.72 ml. The dosage for the treatment and prophylaxis of coronary heart disease is exclusively a medical competence.
- Warfarin (eg Coumadin): possibly associated with acetylsalicylic acid. When used alone, it greatly increases the risk of bleeding. Begin therapy with a dose of the drug ranging 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 physician on the basis of the patient's general health and response to treatment. The maintenance dose involves taking 2-10 mg of the drug per day. Do not continue the therapy for too long. Consult your doctor.
Blood thinners: By keeping the blood fluid, these drugs also hinder the formation of clots which, as we know, could lead to heart attacks, strokes or, in severe 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 the blood vessels dilated, thus avoiding the risk of occlusion; in this way, the 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 how an antihypertensive treatment is essential to control blood pressure values, therefore also to escape coronary heart disease.
For further information: read the article on drugs for the treatment of hypertension
Nitro-derivatives: for the prevention of coronary heart disease, the administration of nitroglycerin and nitro-derivatives is of primary necessity, since these actives 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, Trinitrine for infusion, Natispray Spray, Triniplas patches, Trinitrina coated tablets): by temporarily dilating arterial blood vessels, it improves the blood supply to the heart, reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. must be determined by the doctor.
Medicines such as Isosorbide dinitrate (eg Carvasin, Dinike, Nitrosorbide) and Isosorbide mononitrate (eg Duronitrin, Elan, Ismo Diffutab, Ismo-20, Leicester, Monocinque, Monoket) can also be used in therapy for the prevention of coronary heart disease , Vasdilat), most used, however, in the treatment of angina pectoris.
Anti-cholesterol drugs: the formation of atheromas constitutes a serious element of risk for coronary heart disease, therefore the administration of specific drugs is essential:
- Fibrates
- Statins
- Selective inhibitors of intestinal absorption of cholesterol
- Niacin
- Bile acid sequestering resins
For further information: see the article on drugs for the treatment of high cholesterol
Hypoglycemic drugs: Antidiabetic drugs lower blood sugar, helping the body to direct sugar to cells and where energy is required. The administration of these drugs is also part of the prevention rules for coronary heart disease.
