Recently, many drugs were found to cause or degrade heart failure by the AHA. | Courtesy of Shutterstock
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Amanda Rupp | Jul 12, 2016

Many drugs found to cause, degrade heart failure by AHA

According to a new statement from the American Heart Association (AHA), many of the drugs typically used for treating a range of conditions can actually cause or even worsen heart failure.

In light of this knowledge, the AHA recommends that patients give their health care providers a list that shows the patients’ medications. This list should include natural supplements and over-the-counter drugs.

“Keep a list of all your medications and doses to show at every medical visit, and inform a health care provider treating your heart failure before stopping or starting any medication,” Dr. Robert Page II, chair of the writing committee for the new scientific statement published in American Heart Association journal Circulation, said. “Ideally, there should be a 'captain' who oversees your medications. This person might be a physician, advanced practice nurse, nurse or a pharmacist who is managing your heart failure.”

Before beginning or ceasing any medication, patients who have heart failure should meet with a health professional.

“Since many of the drugs heart failure patients are taking are prescribed for conditions such as cancer, neurological conditions or infections, it is crucial but difficult for health care providers to reconcile whether a medication is interacting with heart failure drugs or making heart failure worse,” Page said.

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