from American Heart Association journal Circulation
Heart failure patients have been taught to
read food labels for sodium content but
they also need to read labels on
medications. A new scientific statement
from the American Heart Association notes
that heart failure patients have, on
average, five or more separate medical
conditions and take seven or more
prescription medications daily—often
prescribed by different healthcare
providers. The statement provides
information about specific medications and
so-called natural remedies that may have
serious unintended consequences for heart
failure patients. The statement published
in the journal Circulation urges heart
failure patients to keep a list of all
medications and doses and notify the
provider who manages the heart failure
before starting or stopping any
medication.