Diabetic Heart Disease Treatment: Should You Use Medications or Angioplasty?

Posted: December 28th, 2009 under Health.
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If you have heart disease and you are a diabetic, don’t make a fast decision for an angioplasty. According to current research, the best treatment for heart disease in diabetics might be an old faithful method - medications.

Heart disease is the number one reason that diabetics die, however an angioplasty might not be required for all situations. In several situations, using medications to reduce blood pressure and take the stress off the heart might be a better choice.

Diabetics and Heart Disease: What is the Best Choice?

Diabetics who have heart disease have been advised by doctors for years to have angioplasty to unclog their arteries. Angioplasty is an expensive operation that requires a balloon to unblock coronaries. Even though this operation is considered safe, there is a two percent risk of death and a five percent risk of having a heart attack during or following the operation. Occasionally the artery closes up while the procedure is going on, resulting in the need for bypass surgery.

Based on this study, people who are diabetics can have their heart disease treated just as well with medications if the ailment is not too bad. A lot of doctors and patients want a “fast solution” and choose angioplasty as a diabetic heart disease treatment; however with the chance of having a heart attack being between one to twenty percent, this operation is risky. Diabetics might have a greater risk of problems specifically if they have kidney ailments or other types of diabetes connected issues. Older people, females, as well as people with underlying medical issues might really have a high risk.

Treatment for Diabetics with Heart Disease

The good news is that there are several medications that will help with diabetics heart disease. Statins are usually taken to reduce cholesterol levels and decrease the general chance of a heart attack.
ACE inhibitors can assist with blood pressure reduction and also help with diabetics’ heart disease. The kind of medication taken is different considering the person; however the research implies that with the correct combination of medications, the heart attack risk and heart connected mortality can go down the same way by using medications as it can with angioplasty.

Heart Disease in Diabetics: The Final Word?

If your heart disease is very bad, the best choice for you might still be angioplasty; however if your heart disease is not too bad, taking medications for your condition might work very well. Discuss which treatment is best for you with your doctor.

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