Since its FDA approval in December 2017, Ozempic, an injectable semaglutide originally intended for use by those with diabetes, has taken the world of weight loss by storm. Now, as the number of people taking the medication has increased, so has the number of health conditions against which GLP-1s might protect.
One of these possible avenues? The heart. Specifically, during one of its most vulnerable moments: After a heart attack.
Researchers from the University of Bristol and University College London discovered these medications might reduce the risk of considerable complications in people who have experienced a cardiac event. This builds upon earlier research that found GLP-1s can reduce your risk of major heart problems, regardless of how much weight you might lose while on the drug.
Here’s how it works:
After a heart attack, almost 50% of patients experience a narrowing of the small blood vessels inside their heart, even after emergency medical treatment. The study explored whether the weight-loss drugs could help “open” the vessels, which contract when your heart muscle is deprived of blood rich in oxygen.
This could help to avoid a common aftereffect of heart attacks known as “no-reflow,” which results in blood being unable to reach certain areas of heart tissue. It can increase your risk of death in a year after the initial heart attack.
Researchers found that the medications activate potassium channels, which allowing blood vessels to relax and widen. More blood reaches the heart, which lowers your risk of further damage.
In short: It could save your life.