A heart attack is a painful and frightening event. In some cases, patients who have experienced a heart attack must undergo a life-saving intervention commonly referred to as a heart bypass. Unfortunately, the invasive nature of this procedure includes risks and the potential for complications. Recent studies have shown that high doses of ascorbic acid may help to lower the risk of certain complications after the procedure.
Vitamin C
Ascorbic acid is also commonly known as vitamin C. It is typically obtained in the diet from citrus fruits and fortified fruit juices. In addition, vitamin C can be purchased over-the-counter as an individual supplement or as part of a multivitamin. Vitamin C has been studied for its role in maintaining general health, and is a powerful antioxidant.
Heart Attack
A heart attack, otherwise known as a myocardial infarction, occurs when muscle cells in the heart are deprived of oxygen, due to reduced blood flow. The formation of arterial plaques and clots within the arteries can result in the occlusion, or blockage, of vessels supplying the heart with blood. As the heart is deprived of oxygen, cardiac cells begin to die and the heart is unable to efficiently pump blood to the rest of the body. Patients having a heart attack often describe symptoms of chest pain, weakness, and panic.
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
During a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), blood vessels are surgically re-routed to bypass the occlusion. As a result, normal blood flow to the heart is re-established. Unfortunately, this is a highly invasive procedure that can cause pain and includes the potential for serious complications.
High Dose Ascorbic Acid
Heart arrythmias are a typical complication that can occur following a coronary artery bypass graft. It is believed that changes in electrical conduction within the heart following injury, inflammation, and oxidative stress to the heart places patients at increased risk for abnormal heart rhythms including atrial fibrillation. As published in 2007 in the "Texas Heart Institute Journal," Masoud Eslami, MD and colleagues studied the effects of ascorbic acid on patients that undergo CABG procedures found that ascorbic acid, when used in conjunction with beta-blocker medications, reduced the incidence of atrial fibrillation following the procedure. The dose of ascorbic acid used in the study was 2 g the night before the surgery and 1 g twice a day for five days after surgery. Patients should contact a physician with concerns regarding heart attacks and bypass procedures.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
- MayoClinic.com: Heart Attack
- "Texas Heart Institute Journal "; Oral Ascorbic Acid in Combination with Beta-Blockers Is More Effective than Beta-Blockers Alone in the Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting; Masoud Eslami, MD, et al.; (Jan. 2007).
