Join the 'High Cholesterol' group to help and get support from people like you. How it works

High Cholesterol Blog

Related terms: Cholesteremia, Cholesterol, Elevated Levels, Cholesterol, High, Cholesterolemia, Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Hypercholesterolemia, Hypercholesterolemia, Familial, Hyperlipidemia, Lipid Metabolism Disorders

Overview Questions & Answers (164)

Blog (52)

Group Members (94) RSS

Benefits of Widespread Statin Use Outweigh Risks: Study

Posted 10 days ago by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, May 17 – Statins – commonly used cholesterol-lowering drugs – can significantly lower the risk for heart disease in people with no history of vascular disease, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Oxford in England found the medication reduced the risk of major heart-related problems, such as hearts attacks and strokes, in men and women of all ages with heart disease – as well as those with no previous history of the condition – by about 20 percent. The benefits of widespread statin use outweigh any known side effects, said the study's authors, led by Colin Baigent, a professor in the clinical trial service unit and epidemiological studies unit at Oxford. The researchers said their findings should prompt a review of national and international guidelines on these drugs. Current U.S. and European guidelines restrict statin use to people with at least ... Read more

Rate of Statin-Linked Muscle Woes Unclear, Study Suggests

Posted 27 Apr 2012 by Drugs.com

FRIDAY, April 27 – It's been long known that people on high doses of statins, cholesterol-lowering medications taken by millions of Americans, are at risk for a rare yet serious muscle condition. However, new research suggests that the frequency of the condition, called rhabdomyolysis, is a bit less clear due to confusion with the codes health professionals use to classify and report such problems. Statins include such bestselling drugs as Crestor, Lipitor, Pravachol and Zocor. Muscle ailments have long been cited as a rare but possible side effect of statin use, particularly at higher doses. In the new study, University of Washington researchers evaluated the use of the diagnostic code for "statin-related rhabdomyolysis," a serious condition involving achy muscles that is sometimes accompanied by kidney problems. The code was introduced in 2006 as a way of tracking how many cases of ... Read more

Cholesterol Levels Vary Widely by Country: Study

Posted 9 Apr 2012 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, April 9 – People's average cholesterol levels seem to rise and fall along with their countries' economies and ease of access to quality health care, according to a new study. Researchers examined data from thousands of patients with a history of high cholesterol (more than 200 milligrams per deciliter) in 36 countries, including the United States. The analysis revealed that countries with higher overall income levels, lower out-of-pocket health care costs, and high-performing and efficient health systems tend to have lower rates of high cholesterol among people who'd had a history of high cholesterol. For patients with no history of high cholesterol, there was no association between a country's economy and health care system and the risk of high cholesterol. Among the specific findings: Rates of total high cholesterol varied widely, ranging from 73 percent in Bulgaria to 24 ... Read more

New Injection Might Lower Tough-to-Treat Cholesterol

Posted 26 Mar 2012 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, March 26 – Researchers report that injections of a novel "monoclonal antibody" lowered LDL cholesterol levels in patients with high cholesterol by as much as 72 percent. This new treatment could help lower levels of "bad" cholesterol for the one in five people who don't respond to the commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins. It may also be helpful in patients who can't get their cholesterol low enough with statins alone, the researchers added. "If this pans out, it will be a whole new approach to lowering cholesterol," James McKenney, chief executive officer of National Clinical Research Inc., said during a Monday press briefing at the American College of Cardiology annual meeting in Chicago, where the research was to be presented. A report on the findings was published simultaneously in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The experimental ... Read more

Related support groups: High Cholesterol

Low 'Bad' Cholesterol Levels May Be Linked to Cancer Risk

Posted 25 Mar 2012 by Drugs.com

SUNDAY, March 25 – There may be a link between low levels of "bad" low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and increased cancer risk, according to new research. In the study, researchers looked at 201 cancer patients and 402 cancer-free patients. They found that cancer patients who never took cholesterol-lowering drugs had low LDL cholesterol levels for an average of about 19 years prior to their cancer diagnosis. The finding suggests there may be some underlying mechanism that affects both LDL cholesterol levels and cancer risk, the study authors said. Still, other experts cautioned that the finding is preliminary, and lowering your LDL levels is well known to cut the odds for the number one killer, heart disease. The study was slated for presentation Sunday at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) annual meeting in Chicago. Previous studies of cholesterol-lowering drugs have ... Read more

Related support groups: Cancer, High Cholesterol

Statin Alternative Looks Promising in Early Trials

Posted 21 Mar 2012 by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, March 21 – A new anti-cholesterol drug appears safe and effective in people already taking statins such as Lipitor, making it a potential addition to statin therapy or an alternative, a preliminary new study suggests. Two single-dose trials in healthy volunteers and a multiple-dose trial in a group with high cholesterol showed that the drug, known as a monoclonal antibody, reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol levels an average of 40 percent. The injectable drug was also well-tolerated by all participants, with headache the most commonly reported side effect. The drug works by attacking a destructive enzyme in the liver, keeping LDL cholesterol from spilling into the bloodstream, according to the report published in the March 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. "It was entirely safe, as best they could tell, and LDL levels plummeted within ... Read more

Younger Adults on Multiple Meds at Risk for Falls: Study

Posted 17 Jan 2012 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, Jan. 17 – Young and middle-aged adults who take two or more prescription drugs at any one time may be at increased risk for accidental falls, a new study finds. The effect is similar to that seen in elderly people, according to the report published online Jan. 17 in the journal Injury Prevention. In the study, the researchers looked at data from 344 working-age people who died or required hospital admission within 48 hours of an accidental fall at home in Auckland, New Zealand, between 2005 and 2006. They were compared with 352 randomly selected age-matched people in the general population. The investigators found that people who took two or more prescription drugs were 2.5 times more likely to suffer an injury in an accidental fall than those who took one or no medicine. The findings held true even after accounting for personal, social and lifestyle factors such as drinking, ... Read more

Health Tip: Improving Your Cholesterol

Posted 22 Dec 2011 by Drugs.com

-- High levels of LDL (the so-called "bad" cholesterol) or triglycerides puts you at higher risk of heart attack and stroke. While there's no surefire way to lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides, the American Diabetes Association mentions these practices that can help lower your numbers: Quit smoking. Shed excess pounds. Exercise most days of the week. Stick to a low-cholesterol, low-fat diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Make sure your diet includes healthy monounsaturated fats, such as avocado oil, olive oil or canola oil. Take cholesterol-lowering medication if your doctor prescribes it. Read more

Related support groups: High Cholesterol

Cholesterol Drug Shows Promise in Early Research

Posted 15 Nov 2011 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, Nov. 15 – Preliminary trials indicate that a new drug designed to simultaneously boost good cholesterol while lowering bad cholesterol shows considerable promise, both on its own and in combination with standard statin medications. The drug evacetrapib is part of a class of so-called "cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors." Evacetrapib is the second CETP medication to undergo testing as a means to lower "bad" low-density lipoprotein cholesterol while raising "good" high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Testing of the first drug in this class – Pfizer's torcetrapib – ended badly. A 15,000-person trial of torcetrapib conducted several years ago revealed that the medication (administered in combination with the statin Lipitor) was associated with an elevated risk for cardiovascular complications and even death. In that case, the trial was halted mid-stream and ... Read more

No Benefit From Niacin for Heart Patients in Study

Posted 15 Nov 2011 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, Nov. 15 – Patients with cardiovascular disease who add niacin to the statin drug Zocor (simvastatin) to help lower their cholesterol get no additional clinical benefit, a new study finds. Even though niacin appeared to increase HDL cholesterol – the good cholesterol – and decrease triglycerides, another type of fat in the blood, it did not reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke or death, the researchers found. "The data we had previously on niacin was not very strong and mostly came from one very old study," said Dr. Robert Giugliano, from the cardiovascular medicine division at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, who was not involved with the study. The report was published online Nov. 15 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with the presentation of the findings at an American Heart Association meeting in Orlando, Fla. ... Read more

Shot Might One Day Help Lower Cholesterol

Posted 14 Nov 2011 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Nov. 14 – Preliminary research suggests that a single injection of a man-made protein might lower levels of "bad" cholesterol. Given in the abdomen, AMG145 reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels among a group of healthy volunteers. The shot turned off a newly identified cholesterol regulator, PCSK9, which interferes with the liver's ability to clear bad cholesterol from the bloodstream. The findings were presented Monday at the American Heart Association (AHA) annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. The study was funded by AMG145 manufacturer Amgen Inc. High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease. The first step toward lowering cholesterol is typically lifestyle changes, which include eating a low-fat diet and regular physical activity. For some, medications such as statins must be added to get cholesterol levels where they ought to be. Even this is not ... Read more

New Guidelines Urge Cholesterol Check for All Kids Ages 9 to 11

Posted 11 Nov 2011 by Drugs.com

FRIDAY, Nov. 11 – All U.S. children between the ages of 9 and 11 should be screened for high cholesterol, according to new guidelines endorsed by the nation's leading group of pediatricians. The recommendations are a major shift from current guidelines that suggest such testing be done only for children who have a family history of heart disease or high blood cholesterol, which is one of the major risk factors for heart disease. Meant to improve children's heart health and reduce their future risk of cardiovascular disease, the new guidelines also recommend that children and young adults have their cholesterol levels checked again between the ages of 17 and 21. In addition to more widespread screening for cardiovascular trouble at younger ages, the guidelines suggest parents make healthy lifestyle choices for their children, such as breast-feeding, a diet low in saturated beginning at ... Read more

Related support groups: High Cholesterol

U.S. Health Officials Urge Lifestyle Changes to Cut Stroke Risk

Posted 27 Oct 2011 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, Oct. 27 – Americans need to take action to reduce their risk of stroke, U.S. health officials said Thursday. Someone in the world dies of a stroke every six seconds and about 137,000 Americans die of stroke every year. That number is about equivalent to the population of Eugene, Ore. or Savannah, Ga., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency's message about stroke prevention comes ahead of World Stroke Day on Oct. 29. A new U.S. government program, called Million Hearts, seeks to prevent 1 million strokes and heart attacks over the next five years. The program encourages people to learn and follow their ABCs: aspirin for people at risk; blood pressure control; cholesterol management; and smoking cessation. "Someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds and while that is a statistic to some, it's a life abruptly changed for the ... Read more

FDA Approves Combination Therapy Juvisync

Posted 7 Oct 2011 by Drugs.com

SILVER SPRING, Md., Oct. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Juvisync (sitagliptin and simvastatin), a fixed-dose combination (FDC) prescription medication that contains two previously approved medicines in one tablet for use in adults who need both sitagliptin and simvastatin. About 20 million people in the United States have type 2 diabetes, and they often have high cholesterol levels as well. These conditions can lead to increased risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and blindness, among other chronic conditions, particularly if left untreated or poorly treated. Sitagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitor that enhances the body's own ability to lower elevated blood sugar and is approved for use in combination with diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Simvastatin is an ... Read more

Related support groups: Diabetes, Type 2, High Cholesterol, Simvastatin, Januvia, Zocor, Sitagliptin

FDA Approves First Diabetes-Cholesterol Combo Pill

Posted 7 Oct 2011 by Drugs.com

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Food and Drug Administration has approved a Merck drug as the first combination pill for patients with diabetes who also have high cholesterol. Patients with both diabetes and high cholesterol are at increased risk for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and other chronic conditions. The drug Juvisync combines Merck's diabetes pill Januvia with the popular cholesterol drug Zocor. The American Diabetes Association recommends all people with diabetes over 40 take a cholesterol-lowering drug, known as a statin. But Merck scientists say many as 4 million diabetes patients in the U.S. are not following that recommendation. About 20 million people in the U.S. have type 2 diabetes, which prevents them from properly breaking down carbohydrates. Patients with the condition are at a higher risk of a number of complications. Copyright 2011 The Associated Read more

Related support groups: Diabetes, Type 2, High Cholesterol

Page: 1 2 3 4 Next (52 results)

Ask a Question

Further Information

Related Condition Support Groups

Hypertriglyceridemia, Hyperlipoproteinemia, High Cholesterol - Familial Heterozygous, High Cholesterol - Familial Homozygous, Niacin Flush, Sitosterolemia

Related Drug Support Groups

simvastatin, Lipitor, Crestor, niacin, pravastatin, Niaspan, Zocor, Welchol, lovastatin, view more... Vytorin, Zetia, evening primrose, green tea, gemfibrozil, Trilipix, Evening Primrose Oil, garlic, atorvastatin, Primrose Oil, Livalo, rosuvastatin, red yeast rice, Pravachol, Lopid, Simcor, Slo-Niacin, flax, ezetimibe, Lescol, mycophenolate mofetil, colesevelam, Lescol XL, Advicor, Flax Seed Oil, fenofibric acid, Garlic Oil, Choloxin, Baycol, Nicotinic Acid, Mevacor, Fibricor, Nicotinex, Nico-400, Niacin SR, cerivastatin, Juvisync, clofibrate, Pravigard Pac, dextrothyroxine sodium, Nicobid Tempules, fluvastatin, ezetimibe/simvastatin, lovastatin/niacin, aspirin/pravastatin, pitavastatin, niacin/simvastatin, Niacor, Altoprev, B-3-50, B3-500-Gr, simvastatin/sitagliptin, Nicolar, Atromid-S, Altocor, Niacor B3