It’s an amazing era for heart health innovation - SpecialtyRx
February 22, 2018
It’s an amazing era for heart health innovation

Review the latest revelations in cardiovascular care and treatment

You can’t beat a healthy heart How is your facility handling resident heart health? Stay with SpecialtyRx for more cutting-edge cardiac updates As long-term care providers, we see our fair share of cardiac concerns. It’s no secret that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and as patients get older, their chances of developing a related condition increase significantly. But once early symptoms surface, aging Americans no longer have to worry about the risk of open-heart surgery. There are now numerous non-invasive advancements on the table, helping improve people’s quality of life while slowing progression of the disease.

Quick Cardiac Recap

 

The beat goes on

Over the past decade, medical experts have made revolutionary leaps in the areas of heart disease treatment and prevention. While some lifestyle tips may be unrealistic for older patients in the long-term care setting, there are plenty of pointers involving newly available prescription drugs, intravenous therapies, minor surgeries and other technologies that have proven to work wonders.

Consider the following heart health developments and their viability for current and future cardiac patients:

• Cholesterol medications – A new type of drug known as PCSK9 inhibitors helps reduce the risk of a major cardiac event, especially for people with a history of heart disease in the family. Injectable therapies like Repatha and Praulent have shown immense promise for patients looking to lower the possibility of fatal stroke or heart attack.

• Plaque buildup blockers – Doctors see a strong link between inflammation and arterial blockage, which means that a quality anti-inflammatory regimen may be the key to maintaining a healthy heart. Scientists are considering prescribing drugs like Ilaris [canakinumab], typically used for arthritis, for folks who face recurrent heart attacks. Early studies look very hopeful.

• A better BP threshold – Just a few weeks ago, SRX brought you a breaking memo covering the industry’s latest changes to blood pressure guidelines. New recommendations are more stringent when it comes to diagnosing patients with “high” blood pressure. In the long run, earlier intervention will surely enhance patient awareness and subsequent outcomes.

• Powerful portable pumps – Individuals suffering from congestive heart failure have the option of a ventricular assist device (VAD), which aids cardiac circulation via convenient carry pack. Today, technological advancements are making these therapies a truly permanent alternative to traditional transplant.