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Prolonged High Cholesterol in Middle Age Raises Heart Risk Later: Study

Posted 5 days ago by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Jan. 26, 2015 – Many folks in their 30s and 40s chow down on burgers, fried chicken and other fatty foods without fear, figuring they have years before they need to worry about their cholesterol levels. But new research reveals that long-term exposure to even slightly higher cholesterol levels can damage a person's future heart health. People at age 55 who've lived with 11 to 20 years of high cholesterol showed double the risk of heart disease compared to people that age with only one to 10 years of high cholesterol, and quadruple the risk of people who had low cholesterol levels, researchers report online Jan. 26 in the journal Circulation. "The duration of time a person has high cholesterol increases a person's risk of heart disease above and beyond the risk posed by their current cholesterol level," said study author Dr. Ann Marie Navar-Boggan, a cardiology fellow at the ... Read more

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Number of Americans Taking Statins Keeps Rising: CDC

Posted 23 Dec 2014 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, Dec. 23, 2014 – More Americans than ever are taking cholesterol-lowering medications, federal health officials reported Tuesday. The percentage of adults aged 40 and older taking drugs that combat high cholesterol rose from 20 percent to 28 percent between 2003 and 2012, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Moreover, the use of statins increased from 18 percent to 26 percent, making them most commonly used cholesterol-lowering drugs. By 2011-12, 93 percent of adults using a cholesterol-lowering medication used a statin. The CDC researchers said they couldn't speculate on the reasons for the increase. But one cardiologist pointed out that statins have been shown to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke and premature death in men and women at risk for heart disease and stroke. And "heart disease and stroke remain the leading cause of illness and ... Read more

Related support groups: High Cholesterol, Lipitor, Simvastatin, Crestor, Pravastatin, Atorvastatin, Zocor, Lovastatin, Rosuvastatin, Livalo, Red Yeast Rice, Pravachol, Cardiovascular Risk Reduction, Lescol, Lescol XL, Mevacor, Baycol, Fluvastatin, Altoprev, Pitavastatin

Most Seniors Could Use Statins Under New Guidelines

Posted 24 Nov 2014 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Nov. 24, 2014 – Most older Americans qualify for treatment with cholesterol-lowering statins under new guidelines intended to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke, a new study shows. Guidelines for the treatment of blood cholesterol released late last year by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association target people most likely to benefit from taking statins such as Zocor (simvastatin) and Crestor (rosuvastatin). The new study of more than 6,000 black and white Americans aged 66 to 90 found that 70 percent were eligible for statin therapy, including 97 percent of those aged 66 to 75 and all of the men. The findings appear in a research letter published Nov. 24 in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine. "The guidelines are a significant change from prior guidelines that relied heavily on levels of bad cholesterol to determine who to treat," letter ... Read more

Related support groups: High Cholesterol, Lipitor, Simvastatin, Crestor, Pravastatin, Atorvastatin, Zocor, Lovastatin, Rosuvastatin, Livalo, Red Yeast Rice, Pravachol, Cardiovascular Risk Reduction, Lescol, Lescol XL, Mevacor, Baycol, Fluvastatin, Altoprev, Pitavastatin

Experimental Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Effective, Study Reports

Posted 17 Nov 2014 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Nov. 17, 2014 – An experimental antibody drug could prove effective at lowering LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels for patients who have side effects with cholesterol-lowering statin medications. That's the conclusion of a clinical trial presented Monday at the American Heart Association annual meeting in Chicago. The drug, alirocumab, outperformed the on-the-market medication that is currently the most widely used alternative to statins, Zetia, said lead researcher Dr. Patrick Moriarty, director of clinical pharmacology at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Researchers from the drug's developers – Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals – were also involved in the current study. Patients taking alirocumab had a 45 percent decrease in their LDL cholesterol levels. Those taking Zetia went down by just 14.6 percent, Moriarty reported. One drawback to the new medication, however, ... Read more

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High Cholesterol Tied to Prostate Cancer's Return in Study

Posted 10 Oct 2014 by Drugs.com

FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 – After surgery for prostate cancer, elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides may be linked with greater risk of the cancer's return, a new study suggests. In a review of more than 800 men who had had their prostate gland removed, those with higher levels of these two blood fats were more likely to have their cancer come back, compared with men with normal levels. "These findings suggest that normalization, or even partial normalization, of blood fats among men with high cholesterol and triglycerides may reduce the risk of prostate cancer recurrence," said lead researcher Emma Allott, a postdoctoral associate at Duke University School of Medicine. Cholesterol levels can be modified by diet or use of drugs called statins, she said. Allott's team also found that increases in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the "good" cholesterol, benefited some men. For ... Read more

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Older Patients More Likely to Fill Prescriptions for Generic Statins: Study

Posted 15 Sep 2014 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Sept. 15, 2014 – Patients prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs are more likely to fill their prescriptions and gain health benefits if the medications are cheaper generic brands, new research suggests. At issue are the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins. Well-known brands include Crestor, Zocor and Lipitor. Generic statins are also available. The drugs are designed to lower the risk of heart problems due to clogged arteries. About half of patients on statins stop taking them within the first year, explained study lead author Joshua Gagne, an assistant professor of medicine with Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. Statins are among the most "notorious" medications in terms of low adherence – patients actually taking them when they're prescribed, said Dr. Orli Etingin, a professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College-New ... Read more

Related support groups: High Cholesterol, Lipitor, Simvastatin, Crestor, Pravastatin, Atorvastatin, Zocor, Lovastatin, Rosuvastatin, Livalo, Red Yeast Rice, Pravachol, Cardiovascular Risk Reduction, Lescol, Lescol XL, Mevacor, Baycol, Fluvastatin, Altoprev, Pitavastatin

Statins May Help Kids With Genetic Cholesterol Disorder

Posted 9 Sep 2014 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, Sept. 9, 2014 – Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs seem to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in children who have a genetic cholesterol disorder, according to a long-term European study. Researchers looked at 194 children and teens in the Netherlands with familial hypercholesterolemia, which puts people at risk for premature hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). The inherited disorder affects about one in 500 people. The youngsters were prescribed the statin drug pravastatin and followed for 10 years. The results showed that taking the drug prevented premature atherosclerosis, according to the research, which was done by Dr. D. Meeike Kusters, of the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, and colleagues. The younger the age of those who start taking the drug, the better, noted the study, published in the Sept. 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical ... Read more

Related support groups: High Cholesterol, Lipitor, Simvastatin, Crestor, Pravastatin, Atorvastatin, Zocor, Lovastatin, Rosuvastatin, Livalo, Red Yeast Rice, Pravachol, Atherosclerosis, Lescol, Lescol XL, Mevacor, Fluvastatin, Baycol, Pitavastatin, Altoprev

Cholesterol Drugs' Benefits Far Outweigh Side Effects, Review Finds

Posted 6 Aug 2014 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, Aug. 5, 2014 – The benefits of long-term use of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs greatly outweigh the risks, according to a review of research published over 20 years. Some experts fear that statins may be overused, but these new findings could offer reassurance to the more than 200 million people worldwide who take the drugs, the review authors said. Common statin medications include Crestor, Lipitor and Zocor. "For most at-risk patients, the cardiovascular benefits far exceed the risks," study author Dr. Chintan Desai, a clinical cardiology fellow at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, said in a Hopkins news release. They analyzed data from studies conducted since 1994 that included more than 150,000 middle-aged and elderly men and women who took statins and were followed for about five years. The results showed that long-term statin use slightly increased the risk of some side ... Read more

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Cholesterol Levels May Be Linked to Breast Cancer Risk

Posted 7 Jul 2014 by Drugs.com

FRIDAY, July 4, 2014 – High cholesterol levels may increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, a large new British study reports. The findings suggest that keeping tight control over cholesterol through medication could help prevent breast cancer, said lead author Rahul Potluri, a researcher at the Aston University School of Medical Sciences in Birmingham, England. "This is a preliminary study and further research is required before anything can be confirmed," Potluri said. "However, 10 to 15 years down the line, if further prospective studies confirm these findings, there is the possibility for a clinical trial of the use of statins in breast cancer." Statins are prescription drugs used to treat high cholesterol. Researchers reviewed the medical records of over 660,000 female patients in Birmingham and Manchester between 2000 and 2013, using a statistical model to study the ... Read more

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FDA Medwatch Alert: Red Yeast Rice by Doctor’s Best: Recall - Undeclared Lovastatin

Posted 24 Jun 2014 by Drugs.com

ISSUE: Doctor’s Best is voluntarily recalling lot 3121005 (7379 bottles) of Red Yeast Rice dietary supplement, 600 mg Capsules, 120-count bottles to the retail level. Doctor’s Best Red Yeast Rice has been found to contain undeclared lovastatin, a previously approved drug indicated for the treatment of high cholesterol, making this an unapproved new drug. Consumers who use supplements found to contain lovastatin in rare cases could result in serious muscle injury; particularly if taking with prescription “statins” such as lovastatin, simvastatin, or atorvastatin. Pregnant women could theoretically put their unborn child at risk by using this product with undeclared lovastatin. Patients with pre-existing liver disease may be at an increase risk for liver injury following chronic use of statins. BACKGROUND:  Doctor’s Best Red Yeast Rice was distributed nationwide through retail and internet ... Read more

Related support groups: High Cholesterol, Lipitor, Simvastatin, Crestor, Pravastatin, Atorvastatin, Zocor, Lovastatin, Rosuvastatin, Red Yeast Rice, Livalo, Pravachol, Lescol, Lescol XL, Mevacor, Baycol, Fluvastatin, Altoprev, Pitavastatin, Altocor

Men Who Take Statins May Exercise Less

Posted 9 Jun 2014 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, June 9, 2014 – Older men taking the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins appear to be slightly less active than those who don't take them, a new study suggests. Statin users logged about 40 fewer minutes of moderate activity each week compared to nonusers, according to the study. These findings confirm those of previous studies that found an association between a drop in activity and the use of statin medications such as Lipitor, Pravachol, Crestor, Zocor, Lescol and Vytorin, according to background information in the study. However, the study's conclusions don't mean that people should abandon their cholesterol-lowering medications. "Statins are extremely helpful for people who need them," stressed study lead author David Lee, an assistant professor in the department of pharmacy practice at Oregon State University/Oregon Health and Science University's College of ... Read more

Related support groups: High Cholesterol, Lipitor, Simvastatin, Crestor, Pravastatin, Atorvastatin, Zocor, Lovastatin, Rosuvastatin, Red Yeast Rice, Livalo, Pravachol, Lescol, Lescol XL, Mevacor, Baycol, Fluvastatin, Altoprev, Pitavastatin, Altocor

More Americans Working to Control Blood Pressure, Cholesterol: CDC

Posted 29 May 2014 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, May 29, 2014 – Although more Americans are trying to lower their blood pressure and cholesterol levels, more needs to be done to reduce the number of heart attacks and strokes in the United States, government health officials said Thursday. Each year, about 1.5 million people in the United States have a heart attack or stroke, killing many and leaving others with lingering disability, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched the Million Hearts initiative, a program that aims to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2016. A report looking at the early effects of the effort was published May 30 in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The news was not as good as officials had hoped. "Although trends in the Million Hearts measures are encouraging, additional efforts by ... Read more

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High Cholesterol May Delay Parenthood, Study Suggests

Posted 21 May 2014 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, May 20, 2014 – Couples with high cholesterol levels may have to wait longer to become parents, a new study finds. When both the prospective mom and dad had high cholesterol levels, it took longer to conceive compared to those with lower cholesterol levels. The study also found the highest cholesterol levels among the couples who didn't achieve pregnancy during the year-long study. "This is the first time that cholesterol levels have been identified as a factor in pregnancy along with known factors, such as age and weight," said lead researcher Enrique Schisterman, senior investigator and chief of the epidemiology branch at the U.S. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that can build up in the body's blood vessels, according to the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Genetics and your family ... Read more

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Prescription Drug Use Continues to Climb in U.S.

Posted 14 May 2014 by Drugs.com

WEDNESDAY, May 14, 2014 – Prescription drugs are playing an increasingly larger role in U.S. life, with nearly half of all Americans taking one or more medications. Among adults, the most common prescription drugs are for cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol. Those are two of several key findings in the federal government's annual comprehensive report on the nation's health that was released Wednesday. The relationship between Americans and their prescriptions is complex, according to the report produced by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On the one hand, more people than ever are receiving effective treatment for chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels and depression. But doctors and pharmacists also find themselves struggling with unintended consequences of drug use, such as prescription narcotics abuse and the ... Read more

Related support groups: High Blood Pressure, Hypertension, Heart Disease, High Cholesterol, Lipitor, Simvastatin, Crestor, Pravastatin, Atorvastatin, Zocor, Lovastatin, Rosuvastatin, Livalo, Red Yeast Rice, Pravachol, Lescol, Lescol XL, Mevacor, Baycol, Pitavastatin

Health Tip: Take Steps to Cut Cholesterol

Posted 13 May 2014 by Drugs.com

-- There are dietary and lifestyle changes you can make that may help you lower your cholesterol numbers. The Cleveland Clinic offers these suggestions: Limit animal fats in your diet, including processed and high-fat meats and full-fat dairy products. Eat lots of soluble fiber-rich foods, such as root vegetables, fruit, barley, flaxseed and oats. Make at least one meal per week meatless. Substitute nuts, beans or tofu for meat. Lose any extra weight. Read more

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Related Condition Support Groups

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

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