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Tag: statins

  • Cholesterol Drug by Amgen Cuts LDL by 60%

    Cholesterol Drug by Amgen Cuts LDL by 60%

    A new class of experimental drugs have been proven to dramatically lower cholesterol, and may become a viable option for the 70 million Americans who have high LDL (low-density lipoprotein) or “bad” cholesterol. One of these new medicines, Amgen’s Evolocumab, cut cholesterol by 55 to 66 percent compared to a placebo in some studies.

    The new cholesterol drugs might serve as a replacement for patients who can’t tolerate or don’t see enough benefits from existing drugs like Lipitor, as well as other statin drugs that have been around for decades. The initial comprehensive studies were presented at an American College of Cardiology conference in Washington on Saturday.

    Cholesterol is an organic lipid molecule and an essential structural component of animal cell membranes, which is required to create proper membrane permeability and fluidity. Animal fats are complex mixtures of triglycerides, phospholipids and cholesterol. As a result of this, all foods containing animal fat contain cholesterol to varying degrees. Foods high in cholesterol include egg yolks, beef, cheese, pork, poultry, fish, and shrimp. Breast milk and alcohol also contain high amounts of cholesterol.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_pT_uL2b3E

    Elevated amounts of LDL or “bad” cholesterol can cause cardiovascular disease. LDL molecules can transport their content of fat molecules into arterial walls, which in turn can lead to heart disease. Traditional drug therapies include the use of statins, which reduce high levels of LDL particles by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase in cells, niacin, which reduces triglyceride synthesis, and Clofibrate, which has been associated with significantly increased risk of cancer and stroke, regardless of lowered cholesterol levels.

    Notwithstanding, the best approach to lowering cholesterol has been dietary. The reduction of abdominal fat, as well minimizing total body fat lowers LDL. As plants contain very low amounts of cholesterol, vegetarian diets have been shown to reduce LDL levels.

    In related news, it’s been reported that certain cholesterol medications might help men suffering with erectile dysfunction.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Cholesterol Guidelines – New Guidelines Could Put 35 Million More Americans On Statins

    It is about time the American Heart Association changed the cholesterol guidelines for 25 percent of Americans over 40. Too many people are walking heart attacks waiting to happen. At least they’re acknowledging that there is a problem, but are statins the answer?

    The new guidelines suggest that patients whose “bad” cholesterol is in the “very high” range (190 and above) should be on statins. People under that range should not need to take statins or cholesterol lowering meds unless they have other health risks, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, but watch their diet and exercise more. However, with this new government guideline, 35 million more Americans could be on their way to the statin highway.

    Statins are not a “risk free” drug, by any means. And with heart disease coming in as the #1 killer in America – it’s a good sign that someone is paying attention.

    Are the risks such as; muscle pain and damage, atherosclerosis, liver damage, kidney failure, digestive problems, rash or flushing, increased blood sugar or type 2 diabetes, neurological disorders, cataracts, anemia, cognitive loss, sexual dysfunction, increase in cancer risk, immune system suppression, pancreatic dysfunction and more… worth lowering your cholesterol with this dangerous drug?

    Have American’s really become that indifferent to the risks these cholesterol-lowering drugs can cause? Wouldn’t it be much more effective, not to mention safe to do it the old-fashioned way, change your diet and start exercising more?

    A very effective physician from the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, has proven that cholesterol lowering drugs do more harm than good. He has also proven via a 20-year study on heart disease and discloses his findings in his book, “Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease” that diet alone can lower cholesterol. As stated, “A groundbreaking program backed by the irrefutable results from Dr. Esselstyn’s 20-year study proving changes in diet and nutrition can actually cure heart disease.”

    In the meantime, we have to wonder what’s the impetus of putting 35 million more Americans on these drugs. Is there something that they’re NOT telling us, and could it be profit driven, perhaps?

    Skeptics of this so called “miracle cholesterol lowering drug” also noted that some experts on the panel, as well as the AHA and ACC, have financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

    When you think about this new guideline, it should make you wonder if your health isn’t quite the motive here.

    Image via FDA

  • New Statin Guidelines Drop Rigid Cholesterol Targets

    A recent study from the combined efforts of the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology has many wondering whether it is time to consider taking statins on a regular basis to maintain healthy levels of cholesterol.

    The four year study claims that taking the prescribed level of statins instead of ritualistically monitoring cholesterol levels through scheduled blood tests will now suffice.

    The guidelines have also added another risk group into the mix of the need-to-take-statins group, mainly strokes. Previously, risk factors focused on those who had experienced heart attacks or who had diabetes, for example. Considerations for having a genetic predisposition will continue to influence potential risks. While these guidelines do not supplant the need to maintain a healthy lifestyle inclusive of exercise and appropriate eating patterns, the emphasis in monitoring dangers has been altered.

    The new guidelines have caused some medical providers to be concerned that members of the public may not understand exactly when adopting the new guidelines becomes a necessity. According to Dr. Harlan M. Krumholz, who is a cardiologist and Yale professor, “Now one in four Americans over 40 will be saying, ‘Should I be taking this any more?’”

    These guidelines are being met with controversy where members of the medical community debate whether cutting cholesterol is the healthiest option, especially considering the brain’s composition which includes a percentage of cholesterol. Some physicians have warned women, in particular, from taking statins.

    Pharmaceutical companies may see profits increase as a result of the recent change in guidelines, which has caused some to question the underlying reason for the study. However, the new shift changes the emphasis from focusing on obtaining a specific cholesterol target amount such as an LDL of 65 to rather just consistently taking statins. Previous guidelines were so stringent in reaching a set level that additional medications besides statins would be prescribed to lower cholesterol. These new guidelines focus on taking the determined dosage of statins on the prescribed basis, but not on using additional medications to reach that level.

    [Image Via Wikimedia Commons]