How Is Heart Disease Treated?
Medically reviewed by Angela Ryan Lee, MD
Heart disease can be treated with options like medications or lifestyle changes. Treatment depends on several factors, such as the type of condition, severity, and overall health. Heart disease is a broad term for any condition that affects the heart and its blood vessels, valves, or arteries.
The goal of treatment is to reduce symptoms, prevent worsening of the condition and complications, and maintain and improve your quality of life. A healthcare provider will likely work with a cardiologist (who specializes in the heart) to create a treatment plan that's right for you.
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Related: How To Treat Low Blood Pressure
Medications
A team of healthcare providers can prescribe one or more prescription medications to treat heart disease. Some examples include:
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: ACE inhibitors can treat high blood pressure. Examples include Lotensin (benazepril), Zestril (lisinopril), and Altace (ramipril).
Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs): ARB medications help open up blood vessels and reduce blood pressure. These drugs include Cozaar (losartan), Benicar (olmesartan), and Diovan (valsartan).
Antiplatelet therapies: These reduce the risk of stroke or heart attack due to a blood clot. Prescriptions include Bayer (aspirin) and Plavix (clopidogrel).
Beta-blockers: These are medications that help reduce the heart's workload by slowing the heart rate. Blood pressure may go down, and the heart may beat with less force. Beta-blockers like Lopressor (metoprolol) and Zebeta (bisoprolol) are often first-line treatments for several heart conditions.
Calcium channel blockers: These are medications that block calcium from moving into the heart. This helps the blood vessels relax and reduces the amount of work the heart has to do to pump blood. Examples include Norvasc (amlodipine), Cardizem (diltiazem), and Verelan (verapamil).
Long-acting nitrates: These help relax the blood vessels and promote blood flow to the heart. Long-acting nitrates are commonly used to treat angina and coronary artery disease (CAD). Monoket (isosorbide mononitrate) is one type.
Short-acting nitrates: These also help treat angina and CAD. Nitroglycerin sprays and sublingual (below-the-tongue) nitroglycerin (Nitrostat) can temporarily dilate blood vessels to reduce chest pain.
Statins: These lower cholesterol levels. Excess cholesterol can build up in the blood vessels and and form plaque, which can contribute to heart attacks and stroke. Statins include Lipitor (atorvastatin) and Crestor (rosuvastatin).
Surgeries and Procedures
Heart disease can cause one or more of your coronary arteries to become blocked. Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply blood to your heart. Blood can't easily flow through blocked arteries. The lack of blood flow can cause a heart attack and other serious heart complications.
Medication can help treat several heart conditions. A care team may recommend a procedure to prevent complications. There are several different procedures for heart disease.
A care team may recommend a procedure that's safest for your condition and health, such as:
Angioplasty: Opens up a blocked coronary artery to improve blood flow and treat heart attacks
Artificial heart valve surgery: Replaces a damaged heart valve with a healthy valve
Atherectomy: Inserts a catheter (long tube) to remove plaque build-up in the arteries to improve blood flow
Bypass surgery: Uses arteries from other parts of the body and reroutes the blood vessels to create a new path for blood flow to the heart, improving oxygen and blood supply
Catheter ablation: Passes a catheter with an electrode (small piece of metal that carries power) to the heart to give off a painless electrical signal that can fix an abnormal heart rhythm
Coronary artery stent placement: A small, metal mesh tube is placed inside the coronary artery to help keep it open, allowing for better blood flow and helping to prevent the recurrence of the blockage
Heart transplant: Removes a damaged heart and replaces it with a new heart, which comes from an organ donation
A care team may suggest surgery for implantation of assistive devices. These include
Pacemaker: This device is placed under your skin and is connected by a wire to your heart. A pacemaker sends an electrical signal to the heart when it recognizes an abnormal heart rhythm.
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD): This device placed in your chest that connects to your heart via wires. An ICD can send electrical signals or shocks to your heart when it senses the heart is beating too slowly.
Left ventricular assist device (LVAD): This mechanical pump aids the left ventricle in pumping blood throughout the body.
Rehabilitation
Cardiac rehabilitation (often shortened to "cardiac rehab") is a medically supervised program. A care team can recommend cardiac rehab if you have experienced a heart attack, heart failure, or major surgery.
A cardiac rehab program may offer the following services:
Counseling to help identify sources of stress and manage stress levels
Education about managing your heart condition and reducing the risk of heart complications
Exercising with a healthcare provider to learn workouts that can improve heart health
Lifestyle Recommendations
A care team will likely recommend lifestyle changes that help reduce symptoms and improve your overall heart health. Heart-healthy lifestyle choices include:
Eating a nutritious diet that includes fruit, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains
Getting good sleep and taking breaks when needed
Having a daily exercise routine of 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity
Keeping in touch with a care team and making time for routine visits
Limiting or avoiding alcohol
Managing other health conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, which can worsen heart disease
Quitting smoking
Taking steps to reduce stress through management techniques, such as meditation, journaling, yoga, spending time with loved ones, and doing hobbies that you enjoy
Related: How To Treat Atrial Fibrillation
A Quick Review
Treatment options for heart disease will vary depending on your condition and overall health. Treatment for heart disease often includes a combination of medication, procedures, rehabilitation, and lifestyle changes.
A care team typically includes a cardiologist, among other specialists. To reduce symptoms and improve your condition, it's important to follow your treatment plan, make healthy lifestyle changes, and stay in contact with the care team.
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