Our blood contains platelets, which play a role in clotting. When blood vessels rupture and bleed, platelets aggregate to form a platelet clot, stopping the bleeding. As people age, they often suffer from varying degrees of vascular diseases, making them more prone to thrombosis. Both heart attacks and strokes are thrombotic diseases. When an acute thrombus occurs, it can lead to severe consequences. To prevent this risk, doctors often recommend antiplatelet drugs for patients with coronary heart disease.
Common antiplatelet drugs include aspirin and clopidogrel. After a heart stent is installed, antiplatelet drugs are essential, and sometimes doctors may recommend dual antiplatelet therapy, which involves the combined use of two antiplatelet drugs.
Coronary heart disease, or coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, occurs when the coronary arteries harden due to atherosclerosis. This process creates arterial plaques, narrowing or even blocking the blood vessels. High blood lipids play a crucial role in this process. Therefore, for patients with coronary heart disease, taking medications to stabilize blood lipids and arterial plaques is vital.
Currently, statins are used to stabilize blood lipids and arterial plaques. Based on individual conditions and doctor's advice, one can choose from atorvastatin, simvastatin, lovastatin, or pravastatin.