Overview
Stroke is a condition in which the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, leading to impairment of brain function.
Mini-strokes, sometimes termed transient ischemic attacks, are a milder kind of stroke. It occurs when a clot in the bloodstream causes a temporary interruption in blood flow to the brain.
People who have experienced a myocardial infarction, or heart attack, may benefit from medication. Additionally, it can help stop other attacks in the future.
Common medications – Beta-blockers, tPA, a clot buster; blood thinners. etc to decrease high blood pressure and cholesterol are all possible treatments for stroke patients.
Ace Inhibitors
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are used to treat hypertension and other diseases, including heart failure and heart attack. They prevent the release of an enzyme that causes blood vessels to constrict. As a result, your blood vessels will enlarge and relax, allowing more blood to circulate through your body.
By increasing blood flow to the heart after a heart attack, further damage to the heart is lessened and the heart is put under less stress. The structural alterations of the heart produced by hypertension can be reversed by ACE inhibitors. It can help your heart recover from the damage caused by a heart attack and function better.
There is some evidence that these drugs can be used to treat chronic renal disease.
ACE inhibitors can be categorised into three groups:
- drugs like captopril that inhibit angiotensin-converting enzymes have sulfhydryl groups (Capoten)
- calcium channel blockers that include phosphorus, such as fosinopril (Monopril)
- drugs like ramipril that inhibit angiotensin-converting enzymes have dicarboxylates (Altace)
Extra dicarboxylate ACE inhibitors include:
- quinapril (Accupril)
- enalapril (Vasotec)
- lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)
Antiplatelets
Clopidogrel (Plavix) and similar antiplatelet medications can be used to reduce the risk of blood clot formation. They operate by making it more difficult for the platelets in your blood to clump together. It is the initial stage in the production of blood clots.
People who have had an ischemic stroke or heart attack may be given antiplatelets. In order to reduce the risk of a second stroke or heart attack, your doctor will likely prescribe these medications for a longer length of time.
The antiplatelet drug aspirin has a significant potential for averse bleeding effects. This means that persons with no history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease may not always benefit from aspirin treatment (e.g., stroke and heart attack).
Aspirin should only be taken for the main prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in individuals who meet the following criteria:
- high-risk individuals who suffer from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
- also have a minimal risk of bleeding
Anticoagulants
Anticoagulants are blood thinners that inhibit the formation of new blood clots and the enlargement of existing blood clots. They achieve their effects by preventing the blood from clotting in the first place. Commonly recommended for those with atrial fibrillation, a cardiac condition that increases the risk of stroke by forming blood clots in the atrium. People who have already suffered a stroke often take them to lessen the likelihood of another stroke. Some examples of anticoagulant drugs are:
- Heparin is administered intravenously to avoid blood clots, which is especially useful after a stroke. Its use is limited to a few days at most.
- Warfarin can be safely administered for far longer than other anticoagulants. It takes many days of use to see any results.
Thrombolytics
Thrombolytic medications, such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), are sometimes referred to as clot busters. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) may only be given to individuals experiencing a stroke caused by a blood clot (ischemic stroke).
Thrombolytics are a popular form of emergency care for those having a stroke. Treatment with tPA involves injecting the medication directly into a vein so that it can reach the clot as rapidly as possible. Patients with a high probability of brain haemorrhage are not given tPA.
There may be a need for further thrombolytic medication treatments or surgery if blood flow does not stabilize following the initial treatment.
Beta-blockers
Stress chemicals, such as adrenaline, can have a negative impact on the heart’s ability to function normally, thus doctors often prescribe beta-blockers to counteract it. Common uses include treatment for excessive blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, and recovery from heart attacks.
It is possible to combine beta-blockers with other blood pressure drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and calcium channel blockers.
They do this by blocking stress hormones, which can lead to gradual bone loss, and by keeping the kidneys from releasing calcium in the urine.
Besides benefiting the heart, beta-blockers have been linked to a number of other positive health effects. The effectiveness of beta-blockers varies depending on the kind. These drugs, taken routinely, improve the heart’s natural capacity to calm down. When beta-blockers are in action, your heart rate and its force will decrease. This has the potential to lower blood pressure and calm erratic heartbeats.
Both the heart and the blood arteries can be affected by beta-blockers, while others solely function on the heart.
Statins
Taking statins can help bring down excessively high cholesterol. Increased amounts of cholesterol in the blood might lead to its depositing on the arterial walls. Plaque is the term for this accumulation.
These medications prevent cholesterol production by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase. This leads to a decrease in its production inside the body. Mini-strokes and heart attacks induced by plaque buildup can be avoided in this way.
Calcium Channel Blockers
Both high blood pressure and chest discomfort can be relieved with calcium channel blockers. They alleviate arterial tension, allowing more blood and oxygen to reach the heart. That’s a relief for it. When other blood pressure medications have failed, they are tried. See if a doctor can tell you which one is best for you.
Cholesterol Lowering Medicines
Cholesterol functions in cell division, nerve insulation, and hormone production. However, inflammation may cause cholesterol to accumulate in the artery walls. The accumulation raises the danger of a cardiovascular event like a heart attack or stroke.
Points to Remember
Follow your doctor’s instructions while taking any drugs. Never stop taking them unexpectedly or alter the dosage without first seeing your doctor or pharmacist.
Know what drugs you’re taking, how much of them, and what they’re for. It’s a good idea to carry a list of drugs you take with you at all times.
If you take your meds at the same time each day then it will be simpler for you to recall whether or not you took them. Having your pharmacist put your meds in blister packs or using a pillbox with days of the week might also be helpful.
Takeaway
Various sorts of medications can be used to treat or prevent stroke. Some aid in preventing blood clots by working in opposition to clot formation. In certain cases, they are treating problems other than strokes. Clots in the blood arteries can be broken up with the use of tPA.
Talk to a doctor online if you have risk factors for stroke. One of these medications could help you reduce that danger.
Treating and future prevention from heart attacks are possible with a wide variety of drugs. They each contribute in their manner to lowering risk factors and boosting cardiovascular health.
Your doctor will discuss the exact medications that can help in your recovery after a heart attack and prevent future attacks with you.
