Stress Management

Heart Disease

Conventional Treatments for Heart Disease

Heart diseases can be treated with drugs that affect the supply and demand of the heart for oxygen. Vasodilators improve blood flow, thus supplying more oxygen to the heart. Other drugs reduce blood pressure, or slow heart rate, to reduce the heart's demand for oxygen. Digitalis increases the force of heart contractions. Aspirin has been found to reduce blood clot formation.

Nitroglycerine is the typical medicine used to relieve attacks of angina pain. A small tablet placed under the tongue soon dissolves and reaches the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries dilate, increasing the blood supply to the heart muscle. If the tablet does not quickly relive the pain, seek medical help. The pain may due to a heart attack rather than angina.

Heart surgery can correct congenital heart defects, repair structural heart damage, replace damaged valves with plastic valves, and repair defects in the coronary arteries, aorta, and other major blood vessels.

Coronary bypass surgery is performed to improve blood supply to the heart. Typically, a vein is removed from the patient's leg, and the two ends of the vein are inserted above and below the blocked area. This procedure restores the flow of blood and may eliminate anginal pain.

Balloon Angioplasty: Here a balloon is inserted to widen a narrowed artery.

Important: Please consult a physician immediately if you suspect heart disease.

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