According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States across all demographics. It claims one life every 37 seconds, and every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. The prevalence and gravity of these conditions makes prevention critical, and doctors sometimes prescribe medications to protect their patients. However, pharmaceutical companies do not always clarify the risks of these drugs, placing profit over human lives.
If you suffered a drug injury or the loss of a loved one due to undisclosed side effects of drugs you took to prevent heart disease and stroke, Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you seek accountability and pursue financial awards. Call us today at (800) 794-0444 to talk to our legal team about the details of your case.
Causes of Heart Disease and Stroke
Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, and stroke occur when the body’s cardiovascular system fails to function properly. While the conditions stem from similar risk factors, they affect separate areas of the body and have different effects. However, the American Stroke Association notes that heart disease can increase your risk of stroke, and stroke can increase your risk of heart disease.
Heart Disease
According to the Mayo Clinic, heart disease refers to any condition that affects the heart, including diseases of the blood vessels, heart rhythm irregularities, and heart defects that present at birth. Healthy lifestyle choices can help prevent and correct certain forms of heart disease, but others require medication for management.
Stroke
When the blockage or eruption of a blood vessel prevents the flow of blood to the brain tissues and deprives them of oxygen, a stroke occurs. In an ischemic stroke, the most common type, restricted blood vessels prevent blood from flowing to the brain, while a hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures. Transient ischemic attacks, also known as TIAs or mini-strokes, cause temporary reductions in blood flow to the brain, and their symptoms may mimic those of a stroke. However, they do not cause permanent damage.
If a doctor prescribed you with a medication to prevent these conditions and you suffered a severe side effect as a result, a Los Angeles heart disease and stroke drug can help you determine if you have a case.
Medications Used to Prevent Heart Disease and Stroke
Because stroke and heart disease share many of the same risk factors, doctors often prescribe medications that can help prevent the occurrence of both. Patients have an increased risk of these conditions if they:
- Are overweight
- Smoke
- Have a poor diet
- Have a family history of either condition
- Have diabetes
- Have high blood pressure
- Have high cholesterol
The American Heart Association states that, in addition to lifestyle changes, certain types of medications can help lower these risks.
Blood Thinners
Also known as anticoagulants, blood thinners decrease the blood’s ability to clot, thus preventing blood clots that can contribute to heart disease and stroke or to keep them from growing larger.
Common blood thinners prescribed by Los Angeles doctors include Xarelto and Pradaxa, which recently faced scrutiny by patients and consumer advocates. When Xarelto hit the market, Harvard Health noted the drug’s supposed safety and convenience of requiring fewer tests as the primary aspects of its appeal. However, in March of 2019, manufacturer Bayer and marketer Johnson & Johnson paid $775 million in a class action settlement after facing 25,000 claims that they failed to disclose an increased risk of serious bleeding as a side effect.
Like Xarelto, Pradaxa drew in patients with the promise of convenience, as it also requires less blood testing than other blood thinners. While studies determined that it worked as well as trusted blood thinner coumadin (Warfarin), research after its release showed a higher risk of serious internal bleeding, which can be fatal, than previously reported.
If you suffered bleeding on Xarelto, Pradaxa, or another blood thinner due to the pharmaceutical company’s failure to provide adequate information on the drug’s adverse effects, a Los Angeles heart disease and stroke drug lawyer can help you pursue your case. Contact the legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm online to get started.
Antiplatelet Agents
Formulated to prevent platelets in the blood from sticking together and forming clots, antiplatelet agents can prevent heart attacks and strokes and minimize the damage they caused when administered during a heart attack. Doctors commonly recommend aspirin, but patients who cannot take aspirin may take prescription antiplatelet agents such as Plavix.
Healthline reports that the pharmaceutical company that produces Plavix, Bristol-Myers Squibb, also faced several claims filed by patients and their loved ones who suffered from brain injuries, excessive bleeding, and even death as a result of the company’s misleading advertising and understatement of drug risks.
If you or a loved one suffered serious injury or death as a result of a dangerous cardiac medication, a Los Angeles heart disease and stroke drug lawyer can help you seek compensation.
For a free legal consultation with a Heart Disease and Stroke Drug Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 794-0444
Compensation for Drug Injuries
Pharmaceutical companies have a legal responsibility to make all of the risks of a medication clear and accessible to physicians and patients. When they fail to do so, patients can experience serious side effects, and they may qualify for compensation for their injuries. Financial awards in a drug injury case may include:
- Medical bills
- Loss of wages and future income
- Pain and suffering
In the event of a wrongful death, loved ones may also qualify for funeral expenses and loss of consortium, also known as loss of companionship.
Los Angeles Heart Disease and Stroke Drug Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to Build Your Case
Seeking justice and compensation in a drug injury case means holding major corporations responsible for their actions, and victims may find this difficult to achieve on their own. At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, our attorneys understand how to navigate the California legal system and fight for accountability and financial awards on your behalf. If you or a loved one suffered a serious drug injury or death after taking a medication prescribed to prevent or treat heart disease and stroke, let us help. Contact us today at (800) 794-0444 for your free case evaluation.
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