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ACE Inhibitor Therapy:
Preventing Heart Attacks and Strokes
ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) Inhibitors are a group of medications which include:
- Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)
- Captopril (Capoten)
If you are at risk for developing heart disease—or even if you have already had a heart attack— taking an ACE Inhibitor every day can help keep you healthy. People who take ACE Inhibitors daily are much less likely of having a heart attack or dying from a heart attack or stroke.
How do ACE Inhibitors help with heart disease?
Most people think ACE Inhibitors are just for lowering blood pressure but they are also a very helpful medicine for your heart and blood vessels.
ACE Inhibitors lower blood pressure by causing the blood vessels to relax and widen. This increases the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart and helps the heart beat more easily.
They are also used to treat and prevent kidney problems. While taking an ACE Inhibitor by itself is not enough to prevent heart attacks and strokes, it is an important part of your medical treatment.
It is common to take other medications in addition to ACE Inhibitors to help protect against a heart attack or stroke. Ask your health care professional for more information about other medications that may help you.
What problems could I have taking an ACE Inhibitor?
Most people who take this medication have few or no side effects. Some people get a mild cough or tickle in the back of the throat. The cough is usually not very bothersome and it is not always necessary to stop the ACE Inhibitor medication.
Very rarely, some people who take ACE Inhibitors have swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, or throat. Some have difficulty breathing, but this happens in very few people who use ACE Inhibitors. If you experience unusual swelling, call your health care professional. If you experience difficulty breathing, call 911 or go to the emergency department immediately.
Some people who take ACE Inhibitors can develop a high potassium level. Since there are usually no symptoms for high potassium, your health care professional may ask you to have a blood test so it can be monitored.
To reduce the risk of having problems taking an ACE Inhibitor:
- Do not take an ACE Inhibitor if you are pregnant or may become pregnant in the near future.
- Tell your doctor or health care professional if you have kidney problems, are using diuretics (water pills), are taking potassium supplements, or using salt substitutes.
Can taking an ACE Inhibitor increase my chances of having kidney problems?
Most people who take ACE Inhibitors do not develop kidney problems. Your doctor may ask you to have a blood test to monitor your kidney function.