Instead of Benefits — Harm: Doctor Explained the Dangers of Folk Remedies for the Heart 0 7

There are people who sincerely believe: the more natural, the better. Therefore, if a doctor prescribes them some medications, they try to find an alternative herbal infusion that will help solve their problem instead of taking the pills.

In her Telegram channel, cardiologist Irina Vasilieva explained why one should not prescribe themselves "herbs" and not inform their treating physician about it.

Unfortunate Combo

According to the doctor, recent data shows that many patients with cardiovascular diseases secretly use dietary supplements and herbal preparations for therapy without informing their doctor.

Thus, up to 45% of patients with chronic heart failure and atrial fibrillation consume various herbs and perceive them as safer natural remedies.

It may seem that there is no problem in adding some folk remedies to classical therapy. The issue is that many natural "medications" conflict with the drugs that the patient is taking as prescribed by the doctor.

"Natural supplements can critically reduce the effectiveness of treatment and dangerously enhance side effects," explains the cardiologist.

Examples

• Risk of hemorrhagic complications (bleeding)

• Ginkgo biloba enhances the action of aspirin and clopidogrel by suppressing platelet aggregation, which can provoke sudden bleeding.

• Garlic in large doses can enhance the effect of blood-thinning medications.

• Reduced effectiveness and systemic failures

• St. John's wort can sharply decrease the concentration of anticoagulants and statins in the blood, increasing the risk of ischemic stroke.

• Ginseng suppresses the action of warfarin (an anticoagulant), which can cause blood pressure spikes and tachycardia.

• Licorice causes potassium loss, provokes arrhythmia against the background of diuretic use, and increases the risk of hypertension.

Do Not Experiment with Your Health

Often, patients do not even tell their treating physician that they are taking herbs. They do not perceive such natural remedies as full-fledged medications and do not think that they need to inform their doctor about it.

Some view herbal collections as something harmless, working at the placebo level. However, Vasilieva reminds us that this is not the case: "Herbal preparations are not placebos, but uncontrolled pharmacological substances with unknown bioavailability and negative interactions with medications."

This means that while a specific herb may contain some beneficial substances, no one knows in what quantities and how exactly the remedy will work in combination with classical medications.

Pharmaceutical drugs have undergone numerous tests before reaching the market, and their production is regulated by law. Therefore, their effects are much more predictable. Moreover, the tablets contain the same beneficial compounds, but in the correct dosage and in a convenient form for consumption.

It is better not to disrupt the treatment strategy that your doctor has established. If there are no serious problems and you simply want to do something beneficial for your heart, then eat fish and vegetables, move more, and if necessary, consult a doctor for therapy, Vasilieva concludes.