According to a medical report, people who take herbal remedies and heart drugs, side by side, are more prone to cardiac problems.

"Some herbal medications affect the activity of prescription drugs for heart troubles, dampening or enhancing their effects", says Dr. Arshad Jahangir, a consultant cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

If the herbs get mixed with the heart drugs, the blood pressure medications and rhythm-controlling medications lose the effectiveness. This may cause serious heart rhythm problems and bleeding.

"We need to actively ask about the alternative or complementary medicines, which the patients may be seeking on their own, to assess these potential interactions or side effects", said Jahangir.

Usage of herbal remedies may prove to be problematic, especially for elders because they typically have more than one disease and take multiple medications.

Douglas Mackay, the Vice President of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, encourages patients to inform their doctors of their intake herbal remedies.

"Many herbal supplements offer healthful benefits and fiber, garlic, and Hawthorne provide heart health benefits, and the potential risk for a drug interaction can be eliminated by speaking openly with your doctor," he says.