What proportion of the risk of heart attack is inheritable?
If siblings, parents or grandparents have coronary artery disease (CHD), suffered a heart attack or stroke, the risk of suffering a heart attack is greatly increased. Especially if close relatives have suffered a heart attack before the age of 60, it is likely that hereditary factors play a significant role. Gene mutations can impair the protection of artery walls and promote deposits in the vessel walls, resulting in restricted blood flow. This is conducive to the development of a heart attack. People suspected of having such a genetic predisposition should therefore be examined, even without the corresponding symptoms, in order to prevent a heart attack.
What influence do drugs have on a heart attack
After a heart attack, so-called thrombocyte aggregation inhibitors are considered the basic therapy. This group includes acetylsalicylic acid (ASS®), P2Y12 inhibitors such as clopidogrel, prasugrel and ticagrelor and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors such as abciximab, eptifibatide and tirofiban. ASA® is not only used as a therapy after an infarction, but also as a preventive long-term medication against heart attacks in patients at risk.
Patients who have suffered an infarction in the left heart ventricle or who suffer from atrial fibrillation after the infarction are recommended anticoagulant therapy with anticoagulants such as phenprocoumon (Marcumar®), warfarin or thrombin inhibitors such as dabigatran or coagulation factor inhibitors such as rivaroxaban. This therapy is very complex, especially in terms of control, and requires controlled adjustment. Side effects such as nosebleeds and bleeding gums can occur, as the tendency to bleed generally increases.If the heart attack is based on high blood pressure or arteriosclerosis, the corresponding diseases are treated specifically.
Painkillers
Acetylsalicylic acid (ASS®) is a common remedy for headaches, but it can also protect against life-threatening blood clots and thus in many cases reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. However, if a person does not have an increased risk of a heart attack, ASS should not be taken regularly, as the benefits in this case are subject to side effects. Acetylsalicylic acid can cause bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract or brain. Taking ASA as protection against a heart attack can be very useful as a preventive measure, but should always be checked by a doctor.