Drugs that Prevent Disease

When you think of taking medication, you probably think of drugs for easing illness. But certain medications are meant to keep you healthy and prevent disease.

Some of these drugs help prevent heart attacks. Others lower cholesterol or blood pressure. Many can help you maintain your quality of life for many years to come.

“You don’t feel heart disease, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure, but when you’ve been prescribed a medication to control it, it’s important to keep taking the drug regularly so your condition doesn’t worsen,” explains Vibhuti Arya, Pharm.D., a past national president of the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists.

Dr. Arya also offers this advice for taking these medications:

• Make healthy lifestyle changes part of your prevention plan. Often, lifestyle changes can reduce the need for medication. “The number one thing is to make sure you’re getting enough exercise and eating a healthy diet,” says Dr. Arya.

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist about anything else you’re taking. This includes herbal remedies, prescriptions, and over-the-counter drugs. Some drugs can interact and cause serious problems.

• Take the drug as prescribed. Don’t stop taking it unless you have discussed it with your doctor.

Here's a look at three commonly prescribed medicines.

Aspirin

Aspirin relieves pain, fever, and inflammation. It is also prescribed to help prevent stroke or heart attack in people who have already had a stroke or heart attack. In addition, aspirin can help reduce the risk for a first stroke or heart attack in people at high risk for cardiovascular disease.

How it works: Aspirin helps to prevent blood clots from forming inside arteries.

A few things to know: When used for prevention, aspirin is taken every day in low doses. Although aspirin needs no prescription, never use it over the long term without asking your doctor if it’s right for you. Also ask about the dosage that's right for you. While on aspirin therapy, be careful when taking pain medications. Some of them, including ibuprofen, can increase the risk of getting an ulcer.

Statins

Statins are often given to people with high cholesterol levels. They are also given to people who are at risk for or who have atherosclerosis. Statins reduce the chance of heart attacks, chest pain, strokes, and death.

How they work: Statins help lower blood cholesterol by reducing the liver’s production of cholesterol.

A few things to know: To avoid serious liver damage, it’s important not to drink too much alcohol when taking these drugs.

ACE inhibitors

ACE inhibitors prevent early death resulting from high blood pressure, heart attack, or heart failure. These drugs also slow kidney damage in people with high blood pressure or diabetes.

How they work: ACE inhibitors reduce blood pressure by preventing an enzyme from producing a substance that narrows blood vessels.