Pumping Marvellous

What are Beta-blockers

Beta-blockers have been proven to extend life and improve the symptoms of heart failure. Your doctor may start you on a low dose and increase it over a few weeks or months.

All beta-blockers have names that end in lol. There are several different beta-blockers, including atenolol, bisoprolol, carvedilol and metoprolol.

They work by slowing your heart rate and reducing blood pressure. Your doctor will probably start you on a beta-blocker after you have started taking an ACE inhibitor.

The most common side effects are tiredness, cold hands and feet, insomnia, dizziness or giddiness.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors)

Bit of a mouthful and thats why we call them “ACE” in pumping marvellous.

ACE inhibitors have been shown to extend life and improve symptoms in people with heart failure. It is recommended that anyone with heart failure caused by a failing left ventricle (most people) should take an ACE inhibitor.

All ACE inhibitors have names that end in pril and include ramipril, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril and perindopril. They work by making the blood vessels open up more (dilate), which makes the blood flow more easily and reduces blood pressure, easing the strain on the heart.

The most common side effects are a dry, irritating cough. Some people simply cannot put up with it and have to switch to another treatment, but persevere if you can. Some people find the cough is less of a problem with a different ACE inhibitor, or that it disappears after a few weeks. Another side effect is hypotension. This means your blood pressure has fallen too low, making you feel dizzy or giddy, especially when you get up after sitting or lying down.

New to Warfarin?

Just a little helpful tip which nearly caught me out.

After coming out of Hospital I thought that Warfarin Sulphate was the same as any drug in terms of:-

Get your prescription
Go to the pharmacy
Collect your Warfarin tablets

Assumption is an evil – I nearly ran out of Warfarin when I found that the GP had not authorised the prescription.

Remember that you need to show your INR record card to the GP and the Pharmacist to prove that you have been attending regular clinics for checking your INR level. In the UK you must produce your INR record card,
and lets face it Warfarin was used as Rat poison and if you take too much you will cause yourself untold problems; mainly your blood will not clot.