Metoprolol given on the way to hospital helps cut heart attack damage

Published: Oct. 3, 2013 at 11:11 PM. MADRID, Oct. 3 - Treating heart attack patients with a beta-blocker drug on the way to the hospital can greatly reduce damage to the heart, U.S. and Spanish researchers say. An acute myocardial infarction, or heart attack, is caused by a sudden obstruction of one of the coronary. The researchers said the best strategy for limiting the size of a heart attack is to carry out the angioplasty procedure as soon as possible because a delay in reopening the coronary artery could mean a larger region of damaged or necrotic tissue. In addition to the high risk of death during the infarction, survivors are likely to suffer from heart failure and severe arrhythmias, and often may die in the months or years following the attack.

Source: http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2013/10/03/3-medication-could-change-how-heart-attacks-are-treated/UPI-91731380856272/