How to use nitroglycerin, aspirin, quick acting heart saving pills, etc?

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (mainly including acute myocardial infarction and stroke) have a high incidence and mortality rate. For this type of disease, 'time is life'. Proper home emergency treatment, especially the proper use of medication, can save valuable rescue time for patients before professional emergency personnel arrive.

There are three common medications for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular emergencies that can be kept in the home medicine cabinet. Today, let's talk about how to use and avoid these drugs.

 

Nitroglycerin

The 'first choice emergency medicine' for coronary heart disease

Nitroglycerin is an essential emergency medication for patients with coronary heart disease and angina pectoris. Its main function is to dilate coronary arteries and peripheral blood vessels, thereby increasing cardiac blood supply and reducing cardiac burden. It is mainly used for the relief treatment of acute angina attacks.

It should be noted that if it is an acute myocardial infarction (usually characterized by persistent chest pain), nitroglycerin can only provide temporary relief and cannot replace the step of seeking medical attention.

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How to use?

Dosage form: mostly sublingual tablet or spray.

Usage: Take under the tongue. Do not swallow, as the medication will be metabolized by the liver and its efficacy will be significantly reduced after ingestion.

Position during administration: adopt a seated or semi recumbent position. Standing up while taking medication can easily lead to positional hypotension and fainting due to vasodilation; Lying in a supine position may increase the amount of blood returned and increase the burden on the heart.

Dosage: If symptoms do not improve after taking 1 tablet (0.5 mg), another tablet can be taken 5 minutes later. If taking 3 consecutive tablets (within 15 minutes) is still ineffective and the pain continues to worsen, the emergency number (120) should be immediately called, highly suspected of myocardial infarction.

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Contraindicated population

Severe hypotension (systolic blood pressure below 90 mmHg) is contraindicated.

Patients with glaucoma (especially untreated angle closure glaucoma) are contraindicated.

Individuals who have taken PDE-5 inhibitors such as sildenafil (Viagra) within 24 hours are strictly prohibited from using them, as it may lead to severe and refractory hypotension.

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Precautions

Nitroglycerin is prone to decomposition when exposed to heat and light. It should be stored in a brown bottle, away from light, and sealed. Do not store it close to the body (body temperature will accelerate its failure). After opening, it usually needs to be replaced within 3-6 months.

Aspirin

The double-edged sword of heart attack and cerebral infarction

Aspirin (mainly enteric coated tablets) is mainly used for daily prevention.

When there is a high suspicion of acute myocardial infarction and no other emergency medication is available, it can be used as an auxiliary emergency measure, mainly to inhibit platelet aggregation during emergency treatment. For acute myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke (cerebral infarction), timely chewing and taking aspirin can effectively prevent further expansion of blood clots and reduce mortality.

 

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how to use

Usage: Chew and swallow. In emergency situations, regular aspirin enteric coated tablets need to be chewed to facilitate rapid absorption; If it is a disintegrating tablet, take it with a small amount of water. Do not swallow the whole pill, otherwise the effect will be slow.

Dosage: The standard emergency dose is 300 milligrams.

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Precautions

If the patient has cerebral hemorrhage, using aspirin can worsen the bleeding and lead to a rapid deterioration of the condition. So identification must be done before using aspirin.

The safest way to distinguish is to strictly prohibit self administration of aspirin when the patient is unconscious or unable to confirm whether it is "ischemia" or "bleeding". If the patient has severe headaches, jet vomiting, consciousness disorders, or is known to have cerebral aneurysms, uncontrolled hypertension, etc., cerebral hemorrhage should be highly suspected, and professional emergency doctors should be waited for judgment.

In addition, aspirin is contraindicated for individuals who are allergic to aspirin, have active gastric ulcer bleeding, have a recent history of surgery, or have thrombocytopenia.

Quick-Acting Heart Relief Pill

Selection of Traditional Chinese Medicine Emergency Treatment

This kind of traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations belongs to the category of aromatic warming and dredging, which has the effects of promoting qi and blood circulation, removing blood stasis and relieving pain, and is commonly used in the attack period or preventive treatment of angina pectoris of qi stagnation and blood stasis type. Compared to nitroglycerin, its antihypertensive effect is weaker and can be used as an alternative for patients with low blood pressure or nitroglycerin intolerance.

Usage: Take under the tongue.

Dosage: It is usually recommended to take 10-15 pills each time. If it is ineffective after 5-10 minutes, it can be taken again (refer to the drug instructions for details).

Timing: It can be used as an early intervention for chest tightness and discomfort in the precordial area, or as a supplement during waiting for an ambulance or when nitroglycerin use is limited.

Although these drugs take effect quickly, their pharmacological mechanisms are not as clear as nitroglycerin. If the indications are met and there are no contraindications, it is recommended to prioritize the use of nitroglycerin and call 120 immediately if necessary.