ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 23, 1990                   TAG: 9003232087
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: NEW ORLEANS                                LENGTH: Short

STUDY SAYS DRUG FIGHTS REPEATED HEART ATTACKS

A drug that eases the heart's workload can cut the risk of new cardiac attacks and death by 20 percent in people recovering from heart attacks, according to a major study released Thursday.

The study, conducted in Denmark, found that the drug Verapamil, known as a calcium channel blocker, was effective for the 1 1/2 years after a heart attack. Calcium blockers are among several classes of medicines commonly prescribed to relieve high blood pressure.

"This is the first trial that indicates that a calcium blocker may be beneficial after an acute myocardial infarction," or heart attack, said Dr. Carl J. Pepine of the University of Florida.

- Associated Press 


 by CNB