Q. Why do some heart medication have PETN?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate) is a vasodilator and antianginal drug used in some heart medications to help improve blood flow to the heart. This is important because inadequate blood flow can cause strain on the heart, leading to chest pain or even a heart attack. PETN works by dilating the coronary arteries, which increases oxygen and nutrient-rich blood supply to your heart.
This also helps alleviate chest discomfort associated with angina—chest pain caused by an insufficiently oxygenated myocardium (heart muscle). PETN has proven useful in treating stable and unstable angina, as well as other forms of cardiac disease such as Prinzmetal's angina. The drug also reduces secondary risk factors that contribute to cardiovascular disorders like hypertension, diabetes, smoking or obesity.
In addition to its beneficial effects on coronary artery disease, PETN also appears to have positive effects on stroke prevention due to its ability to reduce platelet aggregation and prevent unwanted clot formation in the veins and arteries of the body. Research has shown that regular use of this medication may help lower overall mortality rates for people with high risk factors for cardiac events such as congestive heart failure or prior bypass surgery.
In short, critical medications like those containing PETN can be lifesaving if taken consistently according their instructions given by your doctor’s direction . It's important for anyone at high risk of cardiovascular problems—especially those living with conditions like hypertension or diabetes—to talk with their physician about using these types of drugs if they are prescribed them.