New Heart Attack Guidelines Suggest A Third Of All Adults Should Consider Cholesterol Drugs

[mfcorey1]

The nation's first new guidelines in a decade for preventing heart attacks and strokes call for twice as many Americans — one-third of all adults — to consider taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs.

The guidelines, issued Tuesday by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology, are a big change. They use a new formula for estimating someone's risk that includes many factors besides cholesterol, the main focus now. They take aim at strokes, not just heart attacks. And they set a lower threshold for using medicines to reduce risk.

The definition of high cholesterol isn't changing, but the treatment goal is. Instead of aiming for a specific number, using whatever drugs get a patient there, the advice stresses statins such as Lipitor and Zocor and identifies four groups of people they help the most.

"The emphasis is to try to treat more appropriately," said Dr. Neil Stone, the Northwestern University doctor who headed the cholesterol guideline panel. "We're going to give statins to those who are the most likely to benefit."

Doctors say the new approach will limit how many people with low heart risks are put on statins simply because of a cholesterol number. Yet under the new advice, 33 million Americans — 44 percent of men and 22 percent of women — would meet the threshold to consider taking a statin. Under the current guidelines, statins are recommended for only about 15 percent of adults.

Some doctors not involved in writing the guidance worry that it will be tough to understand.

"It will be controversial, there's no question about it. For as long as I remember, we've told physicians and patients we should treat their cholesterol to certain goal levels," said the Cleveland Clinic's Dr. Steven Nissen. "There is concern that there will be a lot of confusion about what to do."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/12/heart-attack-guidelines-cholesterol-drugs-statins_n_4262704.html?ir=Healthy+Living

[former9thward]

1. Big Pharma will not be happy until we are all drugged out zombies.

Just say no.

[Courtesy Flush]

2. +1

For years we've heard that we should live healthier lifestyles. I think they've given up on that message, and figure it's easier to get us to take a pill.

[SammyWinstonJack]

8. Certainly it's more profitable and isn't that the American way?

[Xipe Totec]

3. Indeed.

I'm off the cholesterol meds now, on diet and exercise. My cholesterol is now under control. Go figure.

[mucifer]

4. Vegan diet is my suggestion. I'm not a doctor though.

[Courtesy Flush]

9. I'm not going to take it that far

But we're eating almost no processed foods, sugar, fat, and our beef is grass fed (we have developed an ongoing relationship with a local supplier), and is a very small part of our diet. Most of our meals are meatless. Most of our fruits and vegetables are organic.

Now that we're getting cold weather here in South Louisiana, I'm jonesing for some gumbo, but I can't have any until we can get our hands on an organic chicken.

I believe in what The Buddha called The Middle Path. We eat as healthy a diet as is possible within the limitations of what's practical. These days, the "middle" seems extreme to a lot of people, compared to the typical modern diet.

[n2doc]

5. I've taken statins

They screw with my thinking and gave me very bad insomnia/bad dreams. I stopped after a week. I'm not the only one who has reacted to them in this way.

Pharma just needs a bigger cash stream, gotta keep those profits up.

[octoberlib]

6. I think this has more to do with making more money for Big Pharma by

expanding their customer base than it does with preventing strokes and heart attacks. I'd like to know how many of those doctors are on the payroll of the pharmaceutical companies.

[kelliekat44]

7. I just want to know what the country intends to do about the quality of life for all the people we

save from heart attacks and abortions? Is there any political will at all to make life better for the elderly poor or the children born into poverty thanks to cuts in the social safety-net?

[sabrina 1]

10. Big Pharma works hard to deal its drugs.