ACE inhibitors are not without risks, however, and can cause dangerously low blood pressure in some people, even at low doses. Recent reports, however, are indicating that it might save the lives of as many as 75,000 American heart attack victims. More research is warranted. L-carnitine is a natural substance that may help restore heart muscles damaged after an attack. In a small trial, patients were injected with this substance within 12 hours of a heart attack, and after a year the patients who received L-carnitine showed less enlargement than those who didn't.
More study is needed.
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and coronary artery bypass graft surgery, known as revascularization procedures, are the standard operations for opening narrowed or blocked arteries. Emergency angioplasty is the more common procedure for heart attack patients. Much research has attempted to clarify the relative benefits of angioplasty and thrombolytic therapy. Coronary bypass surgery is used in certain cases, and is usually not performed for a few days to allow recovery of the heart muscles. A number of studies indicated that in centers experienced with emergency angioplasty, the procedure is more effective than thrombolytic therapy in many patients, particularly those who have risk factors for bleeding or stroke.