Women: Could the Heart Disease 'Wonder Drug' Save Your Life?
Posted on: Thursday, 26 January 2006, 06:00 CST
By MADELEINE BAILEY
ANYONE at high risk of cardiovascular disease can now get drugs called statins on prescription - a move which may save 10,000 lives a year.
Statins have been around since 1989 but until now their use has been restricted to patients with high cholesterol and those who've had a heart attack, stroke or suffer from angina. The number of adults taking them is about to rise from 1.8 million to 3.4 million, cutting deaths by about 21 per cent.
How do statins work?
THEY reduce cholesterol levels in the blood, preventing furring up of the arteries, a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease. They also reduce levels of triglycerides, a blood fat associated with heart disease, and are thought to improve circulation.
Who can get them?
ANYONE who has a 20 per cent or higher risk of cardiovascular disease is eligible for statins on prescription. Risk factors include being overweight, a family history of cardiovascular problems, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking and heavy drinking or having diabetes. And the older you are, the greater your risk. See your GP for an assessment.
What if my risk is moderate?
UNFORTUNATELY people at moderate risk of cardiovascular disease - 10 to 15 per cent -aren't eligible for statins on prescription, but can buy them over the counter from pharmacies. Zocor Heart-Pro (pounds 5.99), from Boots. But bear in mind that medication won't eliminate your risk and will be most effective in conjunction with lifestyle changes such as losing weight.
Are there side effects?
FEW people suffer side effects from statins but they may include muscle pain, so consult your GP or pharmacist if you experience this. Problems can usually be overcome by adjusting the dose.
Source: Daily Mirror
Related Articles
- Risk Factors For Cardiovascular Disease Rising In Poor, Young
- BG Medicine Signs Collaborative Research Agreement with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and Boston University
- New Analysis Suggests That Improvements in Kidney Function in Patients Treated With Lipitor Strongly Correlate With a Reduced Risk of Major Cardiovascular Events
- Brigham and Women's Hospital and Celera Publish Results Demonstrating That Carriers of a Variant of the LPA Gene Have More Than Two-Fold Higher Risk of Major Cardiovascular Events and That This Risk is Eliminated By Aspirin Therapy
- ACTOS(R) (Pioglitazone HCl) Demonstrates Reduced Risk of Ischemic Cardiovascular Disease in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
- Tsunami Survivors at Risk of Disease
- Video: 'Heart Attack' Super Bowl Ad Kicks Off King Pharmaceuticals' Sponsorship of American Heart Association's High Blood Pressure Web Site
- ''Heart Attack'' Super Bowl Ad Kicks Off King Pharmaceuticals' Sponsorship of American Heart Association's High Blood Pressure Web Site
- Ecstasy 'a Risk of Disease'
- New One-A-Day Cholesterol Plus With Policosanol is First Leading Multivitamin to Maintain Healthy Cholesterol and Blood Pressure Levels -
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds