The chronic management of congestive heart failure usually includes the use of an ACE inhibitor medication. ACE inhibitors dilate the arteries and allow blood to flow with less resistance. This has the effect of reducing the pumping work of the heart.

These drugs have clearly been shown to reduce mortality and delay the progression of congestive heart failure. Other studies have shown that ACE inhibitors improve life expectancy in patients who have suffered a heart attack. Higher doses of ACE inhibitors appear to be more effective than lower doses without additional side effects.

ACE inhibitors:

• Accupril (quinapril)
• Altace (ramipril)
• Capoten (captopril)
• Lotensin (benazepril)
• Mavik (trandolapril)
• Monopril (fosinopril)
• Prinivil (lisinopril)
• Univasc (moexipril)
• Vasotec (enalapril)