Beta-blockers: One year of treatment may be enough after heart attack

Researchers estimate that over 17.9 million people globally die each year from cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction , also known as a heart attack. Having a heart attack can increase a person’s risk for having other cardiovascular issues, including another heart attack , heart failure , arrhythmia , stroke , and peripheral artery disease .

To help lower your risk for these heart conditions, after a heart attack doctors normally prescribe a combination of lifestyle changes, such as eating a heart-healthy diet and quitting smoking , along with cardiac rehabilitation and certain medications , such as beta-blockers . Now, a new study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26) reports that people who have had a heart attack, but who are considered low risk for other cardiovascular complications, may be able to safely discontinue beta-blocker use after at least one year.

The results of the study were also published in The New England Journal of Medicine .