What You Should Know About Prescription Drugs and Heart Disease
Knowing which drugs are safe and which aren’t can help you reduce your risk of future health problems.
*Always discuss your options with your doctor before reducing or eliminating any prescription medications.
Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium channel blockers include the drugs diltiazem (Cardizem CD®, Cardizem SR®, Dilacor XR®), nifedipine (Procardia XL®), and verapamil (Calan®, Calan SR®, Isoptin®, Isoptin SR®, Verelan®). In addition to treating hypertension, calcium channel blockers are used to treat chest pain (angina) and irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia). They may also be used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease.
“Calcium channel blockers were put on the market without proper testing,” says Dr. Kurt Ferver, Wake Forest School of Medicine, “and for those who take them there is not only an increase in strokes, but a five-fold increase in the risk of heart attacks.”
Common side effects associated with calcium channel blockers are fatigue, flushing, swelling of the abdomen, ankles or feet, and heartburn. Less common side effects are changes in heart rate — either tachycardia or bradycardia (slow heart rate), shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, dizziness, numbness in the hands and feet, and gastrointestinal disturbances. Chest pains, jaundice, and fainting are rarely reported.
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers are generally prescribed to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), congestive heart failure (CHF), abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), and chest pain (angina). Beta blockers are sometimes used in heart attack patients to prevent future attacks.
Commonly prescribed beta blockers include atenolol (Tenoretic®, Tenormin®), metoprolol (Lopressor®, Toprol XL®), nadolol (Corgard®), and propranolol (Inderal®). Beta blockers have several potential side effects including congestive heart failure, shortness of breath, heart block, fatigue, lethargy, drowsiness, depression, insomnia, headaches, dizziness, tingling in the hands and feet, wheezing, bronchospasms, increased severity of asthma or chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, decreased sex drive, muscle fatigue, reduced HDL (good cholesterol), and increased LDL and triglycerides.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors
ACE inhibitors are used to treat congestive heart failure (CHF) and hypertension. Potential side effects include a dry cough, gastrointestinal disturbances, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, joint pain, fever, lightheadedness, and fatigue.
Commonly prescribed ACE inhibitors include captopril (Capoten®), enalapril (Vasotec®), and Lisinopril, (Prinivil®, Zestril®).
Angiotension II Receptor Blockers
These medications, which include Diovan, Benicar, Micardis, Avapro, Cozaar, Teveten, and Atacand, are used to lower blood pressure and treat heart disease. Potential side effects to these medications include headache, upper respiratory infection, cough, dizziness, sinusitis, throat inflammation, diarrhea, fatigue, back pain, viral infections, and abdominal pain.
“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.“
Henry David Thoreau
Diuretics For Reducing Edema
Diuretics reduce edema (fluid retention) and lower blood pressure by reducing sodium and water retention. The three types of diuretics (thiazides, potassium-sparing diuretics, and high-loop diuretics) all work differently, but the goal is to lower blood pressure and/or heart fluid (CHF).
Diuretic medications include Oretic, Euduron, Reneses, Hygroton, Bumex, Lasix, Anhydron, Diuril, Edecrin, Demadex, Dyrenium, Aldactone, Midamor, Zaroxolyn, and Lozol.
They may cause the following side effects: Excessive uric acid in the blood (gout), magnesium deficiency, potassium deficiency, electrolyte imbalance, muscle cramps, fatigue, headaches, lowered HDL, excessive sugar in the blood (diabetes), fever, rash, irregular menstrual cycles (aldosterone), impotence, and excessive urination and thirst.
Green Tea Proven to Reduce Risk of Cancer
In a study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology, Dr. Toru Naganuma of Tohoku University School of Medicine in Senda and colleagues reported that drinking at least five cups of green tea daily was found to slash the risk of blood cancers by 42% and lymph system cancers by 48%.
Yet another study of the Ohsaki data, by scientists at the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, published in the September edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found a strong link between drinking green tea and protection against pneumonia in women.
Natural Ways to Reduce Blood Pressure
Studies show that one-third of those with hypertension could discontinue their medication by restricting their salt intake to <1800mg a day and losing a modest 10 pounds.
Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant, beta blocker, and calcium channel blocker proven to help reduce high blood pressure.
Here some additional supplements that can help lower your blood pressure:
1. Omega-3 fatty acids: Found in fish oil supplements, omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to have a modest effect on reducing blood pressure.
2. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): This antioxidant is naturally produced by the body and helps with energy production in cells. Some studies suggest that CoQ10 supplements may help lower blood pressure.
3. Garlic: Garlic has been used for centuries for its potential health benefits, including blood pressure reduction. It may have a mild effect on lowering blood pressure.
4. Hibiscus tea: Drinking hibiscus tea has been associated with a slight reduction in blood pressure. It is believed to have diuretic properties and may also act as a natural ACE inhibitor.
5. Beetroot juice: Beetroot juice contains nitrates, which can help relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure. Drinking beetroot juice has been shown to have a modest effect on blood pressure reduction.
6. Potassium: Increasing potassium intake through diet or supplements may help lower blood pressure, especially in individuals who are sensitive to sodium.
Studies show that increased fiber can lower systolic pressure by 10 points and diastolic pressure by five points.
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Habitat For Humanity: Helping Others Help Themselves
What is Habitat for Humanity International?
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. We seek to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. To accomplish these goals, we invite people of all backgrounds, races, and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.
Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller, along with his wife, Linda. Today, we have built over 300,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.5 million people in 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter.
Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) Helps Reduce Neuropathy Associated With Diabetes
443 patients with chronic painful neuropathy (nerve pain that radiates to the legs) were treated with 600mg per day of ALA for five years. After discontinuing ALA, 293 patients switched to Neurontin and 100 stopped treatment altogether. Roughly 73% of those who went untreated developed neuropathy after discontinuing ALA. ALA has been found to improve microcirculation in those with diabetic neuropathy. Anyone with diabetes should start a preventative regime that includes ALA.
Several of my patients are doing well on this over the counter nerve pain blocking supplement.
Eat More Fruits and Live Longer
Cambridge University scientists report that each ounce of vitamin C-laden fruits consumed per day reduces the risk of early death by 10%.
Talk to Your Pharmacists
A study conducted by researchers at Ohio State University found that by discussing medical conditions with a pharmacist, people are typically able to reduce the prescriptions they were taking by 13-60%.
Laugh More and Live Longer
University of Maryland, Baltimore County researchers found that people who laughed the least were 40% more likely to have heart disease than people who laughed the most.
