Do you know what happens when your heart’s blood supply gets blocked? A heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction, might occur.
But don’t worry, scientists are always looking for better ways to prevent these heart issues.
About Coronary Artery Disease and Aspirin
Coronary artery disease is when the blood vessels to your heart get blocked. One common way to prevent this is to use a medicine called aspirin.
This drug helps stop blood cells from sticking together and forming a clot, which could block blood flow.
The PANTHER Study
But is aspirin the best medicine? Some researchers led by Professor Marco Valgimigli in Switzerland decided to investigate.
They conducted a large study called PANTHER. They looked at a group of medicines called P2Y12 inhibitors and compared them to aspirin.
The Big Comparison
The scientists gathered data from 24,325 patients from seven different studies. About half of these patients took P2Y12 inhibitors, and the other half took aspirin.
They then compared how well these two groups did over time.
The Findings
They found that patients taking P2Y12 inhibitors had fewer heart problems compared to those taking aspirin. This included fewer heart attacks, less heart-related death, and fewer strokes. The risk of bleeding, a potential side effect of these medicines, was the same in both groups.
Breaking Down the Numbers
Out of every 100 patients taking P2Y12 inhibitors, about 5.5 had a heart attack, stroke, or died from heart-related causes.
On the other hand, out of every 100 patients taking aspirin, about 6.3 faced the same problems.
Also, the risk of having a heart attack was lower in the P2Y12 group. Only 2.3 out of every 100 patients in this group had a heart attack, compared to 3.0 out of every 100 patients in the aspirin group.
Professor Valgimigli’s Thoughts
Professor Valgimigli believes that the results of this study might change how doctors treat patients with heart problems.
He thinks P2Y12 inhibitors could replace aspirin for the long-term care of these patients. But he also notes that P2Y12 inhibitors are not perfect and that more research is needed.
Conclusion
This study is an important step forward in understanding how to best prevent heart problems. However, more studies are needed to confirm these results and understand the best use of P2Y12 inhibitors.
Until then, doctors will continue to use the best available medicine, considering the benefits and risks for each patient.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and tongues of people with heart failure look totally different.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about how espresso coffee affects your cholesterol level, and results showing common snack may lead to high blood pressure, heart rhythm disorder.
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