at what stage should spironolactone be used in the treatment of chronic heart failure?the same for digoxine.?
375083
Spironolactone is recommended for Stage III and Stage IV congestive heart failure, according to the NY Heart Association functional classification. Stage III heart failure is defined as marked limitation of ordinary physical activity (such as walking 1 block/1 flight of stairs, showering, dressing). Stage IV heart failure is defined as the inability to perform any physical activity without discomfort (shortness of breath, chest pain).\n\nDigoxin is recommended for patients with systolic failure (an ejection fraction of <40% seen on ECHO) who continue to have symptoms (shortness of breath, chest pain) despite treatment with an ACE inhibitor, beta blocker, and diuretic.
1126900
I actually take 4 different blood pressure medicines. Toprol XL50 mg is one of them. \nLike you I still get chest pains with light headedness. I have been taking Toprol XL for about 2 years. I have had 3 heart caths with 4 stent implants.\nBut I have never heard of Toprol giving you chest pains.\n\nYou really need insurance. It has been my experience that since 1992 this high blood pressure just gets worse.
1058108
Some patients have been helped with Beta Blockers\nSee URL\nhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/peyronies-disease/DS00427/DSECTION=3\nI hope this is helpful.\nPresident Clinton is apparently affected with this condition.
719335
Metoprolol (Toprol) is used to reduce hypertension (high blood pressure), to treat chest pain (angina), to treat heart failure, and to reduce the risk that a heart attack will recur.
1091136
This is furosemide, which is also known as Lasix.   Furosemide is in a class of drugs called loop diuretics (water pills). It decreases the amount of fluid in the body by increasing the amount of salt and water lost in the urine. Furosemide is used to reduce swelling in the body caused by congestive heart failure, liver disease, or kidney disease.
10789
Not all pericardial effusions are life-threatening or need treatment.  Those that are life threatening certainly cannot be treated with herbal medications ( and I am a big believer in these meds) and require complex procedures (i.e. pericardial window etc...) So....even if there were an herbal treatment would you use it on a condition  which will either spontaneously go away or potentially kill you?
382373
PLEASE REFER THE BELOW SITES\n\n\nDiuretics Effective for People with Diabetes and High Blood Pressure \n\nIn people with diabetes, diuretics work as well as ACE-inhibitors and calcium channel blockers in protecting against heart attack and improving survival, and offer more protection against congestive heart failure. \n\nThe latest findings from the �Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial� or ALLHAT, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, are published in the June 27 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. \n\nALLHAT is the largest study to compare these three major classes of medications to treat high blood pressure. The study originally reported in 2002 that diuretics were more beneficial as initial treatment for high blood pressure for protecting against adverse cardiovascular outcomes. This latest analysis shows that even among diabetics and those with mildly elevated fasting glucose � a sign of pre-diabetes � the less costly diuretics are at least as effective, may be more beneficial for some people. \n\nAbout 73 percent of adults with diabetes have high blood pressure � which in diabetic patients is defined as greater than or equal to 130/80 mm Hg � or use prescription medications for their hypertension. Both diabetes and high blood pressure are major risk factors for coronary heart disease, and when both are present, significantly increase the risk for developing heart and kidney diseases. High blood pressure can lead to congestive heart failure, a condition in which the heart is weakened and cannot pump enough blood throughout the body. \n\n�Controlling high blood pressure is an urgent concern especially for people with diabetes. Our findings demonstrate the advantages of diuretics in diabetics as well as in those with impaired and normal fasting glucose levels,� said NHLBI director Dr. Elizabeth G. Nabel. �As a physician, I have seen the consequences of poorly controlled hypertension and diabetes. These results show many people and their families can be spared that devastation.� \n\nThe ALLHAT blood pressure study was a randomized, double-blind trial involving 42,418 participants with high blood pressure, ages 55 and older. Of those, 31,512 participants were randomly assigned to a diuretic (chlorthalidone); a calcium channel blocker (amlodipine); an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (lisinopril). 13,101 had diabetes, 1,399 had elevated fasting glucose and 17,012 had normal glucose levels. \n\nCompared with the ACE inhibitor and the calcium channel blocker, the diuretic was: \nMore protective against congestive heart failure in patients both with and without diabetes (by about 1/6 compared with the ACE-inhibitor, and by about 1/3 compared with the calcium channel blocker). \n\n\nMore effective in lowering systolic blood pressure � the measure of blood pressure when the heart beats � among those with and without diabetes. \n\n\nAt least equally protective against fatal coronary heart disease or non-fatal heart attacks in people with diabetes, those with elevated fasting glucose, and non-diabetics. \n\n\nEqually protective against death from all causes, end-stage kidney disease, or cancer in people with diabetes, those with elevated fasting glucose, and non-diabetics. \n\n\nIn Black study participants, more protective against stroke in people with and without diabetes (compared with the ACE-inhibitor). \n\n\n\n�This study shows the advantage of diuretics for preventing congestive heart failure in most people with high blood pressure � regardless of diabetes status. Because some patients may respond differently to medications, they should discuss these results and their treatment with their doctors before making any changes�, advises Dr. Jeffrey Cutler, NHLBI Senior Adviser. \n\nThere were more heart attacks among participants with impaired fasting glucose taking the calcium channel blocker compared with those taking the
488324
SLE  Systemic Lupus Erythmatoues.  You should be more specific for those who dont know the abbreviation.  I have that.  I will tell you one thing I didnt not seek treatment.  When I have flare ups I take a steroid for ten days and Ultracet for pain.  Ultracet has zero narcotics  but works better than vicodin and darvocet...  I refused the immunesuppressor.  I work in the health field and didnt want to get every virus out there.  I excerise regularly and I drink lots of water.  I think it is all in how you think.  Be positive.  Dont get me wrong when I am having a flare up I feel like an 80 yr old woman.  Good luck with your treatment....
634784
I know people with hypercortisolism have symptoms similar to those of excessive Aldosterone secretion. I would guess it's a mineralocorticoid, and promotes absorbtion of Na+ at the DCT/CT. Hope this helps.
204562
you have to go to your physician.he will decide what medicine you need and which are better for you.for you information here are some categories of medicine,diuretics,calcium channel blockers,betablockers,ace inhibitors,arbs,and few more types.each category has its plus and minus points,your physician will decide it for you.
136956
Hyperbaric oxygen treatment decreases heart rate, decreases cardiac output (the amount of blood it pumps), and can possibly increase blood pressure.\n\nIt is said that hyperbaric oxygen treatments should not be used in people with congestive heart failure, because it worsens it.  Please look at the links under "Sources" for more info.
308012
Hi, catherine - It sounds like your question basically boils down to semantics.  When someone is in congestive heart failure, their level of activity is limited by shortness of breath or fatigue.  Usually this is a result of abnormal heart function (a 'cardiomyopathy'), but once they are adequately treated and feel back to normal again, they are technically no longer IN congestive heart failure.  But they still have a cardiomyopathy because the underlying problem has not changed.  So you COULD say that congestive heart failure is a clinical condition, but the cardiomyopathy is the underlying disease.  You could argue that either way, though...
614222
concerning that you'd need both, actually.\n\nIf you tolerate ramipril, then that dose should be maxxed out first.\n\nIf maxxed out, and starting a second agent would use something not related to the angiotensin pathway (candesartan blocks AGII, and ramipril stops AGII from being made), probably a beta-blocker.\n\nYou may have non-classic elevated blood pressure, a potentially missed diagnosis of peculiar origins.... long list: renal artery stenosis, adreneline producing tumor, Conn's disease/syndrome... others
247027
I came across the site below.  It has some good articles about defibrillators.  They have information and advice on the use of blood pressure monitors that you may find helpful.
760657
Corpril is a brand of Ramipril classified as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.\n\nRoles of corpril: \n>>Treatment of hypertension.\n>>Reduction in risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and death from cardiovascular causes.\n>>Reduction of risk of death and other complications of congestive heart failure within the first few days after sustaining acute myocardial infarction.♥\n\nFor full details of Corpril, check out this link: \nhttp://www.mosbysdrugconsult.com/DrugConsult/Top_200/Drugs/e3032.html
137901
Potassium chloride is in the class of drugs called potassium supplements which are used to treat low potassium conditions (hypokalemia) or prevent them from occurring. Potassium is the principal positive ion inside of the cells of the body and is used in nerve conduction, muscle contraction, and normal kidney function. A deficiency of potassium causes weakness, fatigue, heart rhythm problems, paralysis, and kidney dysfunction.\nCardiac arrest can occur with high potassium conditions, such as chronic renal failure, burns, acidosis,  dehydration, and potassium sparing diuretic usage. Potassium supplements should not be given to these patients.\nIt will interact with the normal ionic balance of the muscle depolorization stage and effectively stop the heart from being able to beat.
954903
A heart attack is an acute condition caused by a thrombus (a blood clot) occluding (or blocking) one of the vessels supplying the heart muscle. This results in severe pain usually radiating down the left arm but may be referred to the neck or jaw. The Normal treatment would be additional oxygen, an anticoagulant and perhaps an enzyme that helps to dissolve the clot. Of course because of the severity of pain, morphine or demerol is usually used to both relax the patient and mitigate the pain. It is customary to use an intravenous solution drip to administer medications but also as a ready pathway if a further attach occurs. This is called a myocardial infarction.\nHeart failure is the inability of the heart to circulate blood over distal areas and causes a pooling of blood with concomitent swelling of extremities. The small valves within the veins have lost their integrity and are no longer able to assist the heart in the upward movement of the blood. Drugs such as digitalis are used to slow down and strengthen the heart beat but such patients are usually treated with bed rest and elevation of the legs, elastic wraps and diuretics to reduce fluids. This is preventable by moderate exercise but once condition is established it is an up-down course with the circulatory system slowly becoming dysfunctional.