While many people in the United States are keenly aware of the risks of diseases such as cancer, most do not known that cardiovascular disease (or heart disease) is the number one killer of both men and women in this country. As such, heart doctors and medical researchers alike are constantly working to find better ways to treat and prevent heart disease and cardiac-related deaths to reduce those numbers and help those at risk to stay healthy and alive for longer. Get to know some of these new and developing treatments for cardiovascular disease so that you too can stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible. 

Enzyme-Blocking Treatments

Heart doctors and specialists have long noted the connection between certain medical conditions and heart failure. These diseases and conditions include diabetes and, of course, heart disease. However, what doctors and researchers did not understand was precisely why heart failure occurred in some patients. 

Recent breakthroughs have indicated that two enzymes, one of which is also thought to be linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease may be directly linked to heart failure in such patients. The first enzyme (found previously) is known as PDE-5 and is linked to the first step in heart failure. 

The second and most recent discovery is the enzyme PDE-9 which is linked to the second step in the heart failure process. This discovery can and likely will lead to the development of a PDE-9 inhibitor or targeted therapies to better prevent heart failure. And combined therapies to block both PDE-5 and PDE-9 may be possible as well. 

Antidepressants And Heart Failure

While suffering from depression or other mental health disorders does not automatically mean a person will develop cardiovascular problems, or suffer from heart failure, there does exist a link between the two. As such, recent research has focused not only on the link between mental health and cardiovascular health, but also on how mental health treatments may impact heart health.

Recent studies have actually found a link between the use of the antidepressant, paroxetine, and a reduced risk of suffering from heart failure. This is due to a side effect of the antidepressant that may block an enzyme known as GRK2 that can contribute to heart failure among patients.

Scientists are currently looking for a way to more efficiently harness and control this enzyme-blocking property in paroxetine to create a targeted enzyme-blocking treatment. However those who currently take paroxetine for depression may have the added benefit of reducing their risk of heart failure.

As you can see, new treatments are in development to treat cardiovascular disease, particularly heart failure. Keep these developing treatments in mind and be sure to seek out medical care from a heart doctor should you begin to suffer from cardiovascular health problems.  For more information, contact Cardiology Associates Of Schenectady PC.