Introduction
The term complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), used by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), refers to various treatments that are used beyond the scope of standard medical care. Complementary and alternative medicine opponents have expressed concern about potentially serious side effects of utilizing them without first consulting a medical doctor as the usage of complementary and alternative medicine rises.
More people are turning to alternative medications to treat and stop their condition from becoming worse as the prevalence of heart disease increases with an aging population. Complementary and alternative therapies may offer options for people with heart failure (HF) and the standard heart failure medical regimen. However, the variety of complementary and alternative medical practices may provide serious risks to people with cardiovascular diseases.
What Are Complementary and Alternative Medicine?
Alternative medicine is frequently used in place of conventional medicine. The safety and efficacy of conventional heart failure therapy, including medications and surgical techniques, have been well investigated. On the other hand, alternative treatments have not. Heart failure is a chronic disease that is characterized by the heart's inadequate blood pumping and is linked to a shorter life span. Heart failure may often be kept under control for years by taking a prescription medication and other lifestyle changes. However, some patients look for alternative therapies because they find mainstream therapy ineffective or difficult to work with.
What Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Are Used?
The types of alternative and complementary medicines used are as follows:
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Herbs.
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Vitamins.
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Non-herbal nutritional supplements.
What Are the Drawbacks of Complementary and Alternative Medicine?
Alternative treatments have not gone through the same testing and assessment process to assure patient safety, despite the fact that many people find them to be helpful. In truth, a number of these remedies may interact significantly with conventional cardiovascular drugs and may even be harmful if used without a doctor's prescription. Understanding the potential safety and effectiveness of alternative therapies, as well as the provider's qualifications and experience, is crucial before initiating any of them.
How Are Complementary and Alternative Medicine Classified?
Complementary and alternative therapies fall under a large category of medical and healthcare systems, practices that are not a part of general medicine.
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Entire Medical Systems - Ayurvedic medicine and homeopathy.
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Mind-Body Therapies - Yoga, Tai chi, meditation, qigong, biofeedback, hypnosis, and spirituality.
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Biological Therapies - Vitamin, mineral, and herbal treatments.
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Manipulative and Body-Based Approaches - Massage treatment or chiropractic care.
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Energy Therapies - Reiki and magnetic treatment.
Numerous therapies are holistic, with a focus on the patient's whole health and healing. This approach includes treatments that have an impact on a person's physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. These can include herbal remedies and nutritional counseling, as well as everything from acupuncture to guided imagery.
What Precautions Should Be Taken With Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatments?
Major medical organizations recommend seeking a doctor's advice before using any supplements. Regular vitamin, dietary, or hormone supplementation has not been demonstrated in published research to benefit people with heart failure. Contraindications and interactions between prescription medication and supplements are possible. People with heart failure typically use a variety of drugs, such as blood thinners and blood pressure medicines, which may have dangerous side effects when combined with specific dietary supplements.
What Are the Advantages and Drawbacks of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cardiovascular Disease?
In case of heart failure, always see the doctor before taking any of these supplements.
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Carnitine - A nutrient called carnitine helps the body turn fatty acids into energy for use in muscular function. However, it could conflict with blood-thinning medications such as Coumadin, Aspirin, or thyroid medication.
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Arginine - Arginine is an amino acid that can lower blood pressure; using it in conjunction with blood pressure medicine may be harmful. It may interact poorly with drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction as well as those that increase blood flow, such as nitrates.
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Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) - In some people with heart failure, taking CoQ10 supplements can aid with breathing by reducing fluid in the lungs, lessening edema in the legs, and boosting exercise tolerance. It is an antioxidant that might negatively interact with chemotherapy, blood pressure medications, and blood thinners.
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Magnesium - Magnesium is important for the heart and helps keep the heart's beat regular. Arrhythmia, which is an irregular heartbeat, is usually treated with it. Magnesium, however, may interact negatively with several cardiac drugs.
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Herbs - For centuries, people have been using herbs to bolster their bodies and treat illness. They could interact with other herbs, vitamins, or medications and cause harmful side effects. It should be taken under the prescription of a cardiologist and a doctor who is knowledgeable about the contraindications and interactions with conventional medications, much like other supplements.
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Taurine - Taurine helps the heart muscle contract, but it can combine with lithium and become harmful to some people, especially those who have bipolar disorder.
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Hawthorn - It has been used to treat breathing and circulation problems since the early 1800s. There is minimal proof that it works to treat chest pain, high blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat.
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Chelation Treatment - It is a technique for getting rid of heavy metals from the body. Serious issues, including renal failure, low blood pressure, seizures, difficulty breathing, and even death, might result from it.
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Berberine - The active ingredient in goldenseal is berberine, a vasodilator. It may improve heart health and quality of life; however, it may conflict with a number of medications.
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Cannabidiol - While smoking marijuana can make the heart work harder and hasten the onset of chest pain in those with heart failure, it does not cause heart failure. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect of CBD, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, may help those who are at risk for heart disease. It may have interactions with particular liver enzymes that affect how drugs are metabolized.
Conclusion
The recommendations for treating heart failure advise against utilizing supplements and other therapies without first contacting a cardiologist. Any heart failure education program for both doctors and patients should cover the potential for negative effects and drug interactions with dietary supplements, vitamins, or hormones. Doctors should frequently inquire about any drugs their patients are taking that were not prescribed by them. Meditation, stress reduction techniques, and other therapies that focus on the mind-body connection are increasingly being included in regular medical care after perhaps showing positive outcomes over time. Thus, without first seeing a doctor, people with heart failure should not use herbs or vitamins.
