Heart Medication and Health Risks

drugs 101

• Introduction to Heart Medications
  • The heart's vital statistics:
  • Pumps approximately 2.6 billion times during a lifetime.
  • Circulates about 5 to 6 liters of blood per minute.
  • Contains around 100,000 km of blood vessels.

Heart Health and Risks

• Coronary Vessels:

  • These are essential for feeding the heart.

• Prevalence of Cancer Deaths:

  • Many types of cancer deaths are avoidable, linked to:
  • Tobacco use
  • Diet and obesity
  • Viruses
  • Alcohol
  • Lack of exercise
  • UV radiation
  • Environmental exposure (2-4%)
  • Genetic factors
  • Medical procedures (e.g., X-rays, chemotherapy)

• Heart Problems:

  • Many deaths from heart diseases are avoidable, often due to:
  • Tobacco
  • Obesity
  • Diet
  • High salt and saturated fat intake
  • Gender predisposition (being male)
  • Stress
  • Inactivity, genetic factors, and infections.

Impact of Smoking on Heart Health

• How Smoking Affects the Heart:
  • Smoking poisons the heart by:
  • Reducing oxygen delivery, because carbon monoxide (CO) competes with oxygen (O₂) for hemoglobin binding.
  • Resulting oxygen deficiency damages the heart and blood vessels.

Obesity and Heart Disease

• Obesity's Impact:
  • Leads to increased workloads on the heart, significantly worsening cardiovascular health.

Statistics on Heart Attacks

• Heart Attack Data:
  • Approximately 1.5 million heart attacks occur annually.
  • Of these:
  • 25% die immediately.
  • 25% are unaware they are at risk.

Dietary Factors Affecting Heart Health

• Dietary Risks:

  • Problematic substances include high levels of:
  • Fat, sugar, and salt.

• Healthy Diet:

  • A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is recommended.
  • Variety in diet is essential for optimal health.

• Overeating:

  • The average North American consumes nearly double what is necessary for health.

Statins - Cholesterol-Lowering Medications

• Statins:

  • Statins, like Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium), are effective in lowering heart attack risks in individuals with multiple risk factors such as:
  • Family history
  • High blood pressure
  • Advanced age
  • Low HDL (good cholesterol)
  • Smoking history.

• Clinical Evidence for Statins:

  • In a large clinical study:
  • 3% of those on placebo had a heart attack compared to 2% of those on Lipitor.

• Gender Differences in Risk:

  • Men have a 10 times higher heart attack risk than women, but risks equalize post-menopause.

Stress and Heart Health

• Importance of Stress Management:
  • Stress levels are a significant risk factor for heart attacks.

Physical Activity and Heart Protection

• Exercise:
  • Regular physical activity is known to protect heart health.

Family History's Role

• Genetic Predisposition:
  • Family history can increase the risk of heart disease, with specific emphasis on:
  • Heart attacks and high blood pressure among relatives.

Infection and Heart Disease

• Microbial Involvement in Heart Disease:
  • Some microbes linked to heart disease include:
  • Herpes virus
  • Cytomegalovirus
  • Chlamydia pneumoniae
  • Prophyromonas gingivalis.

Heart Function and Abnormalities

• Cardiac Issues:
  • Potential problems include:
  • Impaired valve functions,
  • Neurological issues affecting heart function,
  • High blood pressure,
  • Poor blood circulation.

Treatment and Surgery Options

• Surgical Interventions:
  • Some valve functions can be corrected through surgical procedures.

Drugs Affecting Heart Rate

• Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System:

  • The sympathetic system stimulates heart rate, which can be modulated by drugs (e.g., beta-blockers).

• Beta-blockers:

  • These drugs help control heart rates by blocking the effects of norepinephrine, leading to lower heart rates.

Hypertension - The Silent Killer

• Blood Pressure Measurement:

  • Two pressures are measured:
  • Systolic (normal ~120 mmHg) - pressure when the heart beats.
  • Diastolic (normal ~80 mmHg) - pressure when the heart rests.

• Hypertension Classifications:

  • Diastolic pressures:
  • < 90 is normal,
  • 90–104 is mild hypertension,
  • 105–115 is moderate,
  • > 115 is severe hypertension, with each 5 mm increase in diastolic pressure raising heart attack risk by 25%.

• Prevalence of Hypertension:

  • Affects approximately 20% of adults.
  • Classified as primary (essential) or secondary.

Sodium and Heart Health

• Sodium Intake:

  • Average daily intake for Canadians is 3400 mg, which is more than double the necessary amount (1000-1500 mg recommended).

• Processed Foods:

  • High sodium levels are common in processed and fast foods.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

• What is CHF?:

  • Condition where the heart is inefficient at pumping blood, leading to fluid buildup in the body.

• Causes of CHF:

  • Can arise from several conditions:
  • Coronary artery disease,
  • High blood pressure,
  • Heart valve issues,
  • Heart rhythm disorders.

Digitalis and Heart Medication

• Digitalis:
  • Extracted from foxglove plant, used to boost heart function and manage fluid retention.
  • Potential risks associated with plant extracts due to overdose possibilities.

Coenzyme Q10 and Heart Supplements

• Coenzyme Q10:
  • While it has some support for neurological disorders, studies show no significant benefits in improving heart disease outcomes.

Angina Treatment**

• Angina and Vasodilation:

  • Angina results from impaired blood flow due to vasoconstriction.

• Nitroglycerin Use:

  • This medication is used sublingually to ease angina symptoms by inducing vasodilation, improving blood flow to the heart.

• L-Arginine for Angina?:

  • Initially perceived as beneficial, studies reveal no significant improvement for patients with angina; Health Canada advises against its use post-heart attack due to potential risks.