Study: Blood Test Can Spot Risks for Heart Attack, Stroke

[babylonsister]

Study: Blood Test Can Spot Risks for Heart Attack, Stroke
Blood Draw, Combined With Widely-Used Drug Could Be a Big Step in Prevention

By Rob Stein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, November 9, 2008; 9:02 AM


A highly anticipated study has produced powerful evidence that a simple blood test can spot seemingly healthy people who are at increased risk for a heart attack or stroke and that giving them a widely used drug offers potent protection against the nation's leading killers.

In findings that could transform efforts to prevent cardiovascular disease, the study of nearly 18,000 volunteers in 26 countries found that a cholesterol-lowering statin slashed the risk of those flagged by the test by about half -- even if their cholesterol was normal.

"The potential public health benefits are huge," said Paul M. Ridker of the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, who presented the findings today at a meeting of the American Heart Association in New Orleans. "It really changes the way we have to think about prevention of heart attack and stroke."

The test measures a bodily reaction known as inflammation, reinforcing an increasingly accepted theory about the underlying biology of heart disease, which kills about 450,000 Americans each year.

"It's a breakthrough study," said Steven E. Nissen of the Cleveland Clinic, who was not involved in the research. "It's a blockbuster. It's absolutely paradigm-shifting."

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/11/09/ST2008110900900.html

[Uben]

1. Thanks for posting!

I am on pravastatin, and wondered how effective it was on the C-reactive protein, so I Googled it. They found it was just as effective on reducing the CRP. This is my first time taking statins to reduce cholesterol, so I'm not sure how effective the pravastatin will be on me. They gave it to my mother first, but switched her to Zocor because the pravachol was as effective as they had wished.

[D-Lee]

2. BUT also look at www.spacedoc.net

Anyone on a statin should also be taking CoEnzyme Q10, which the body produces less of on a statin.

Just be aware that a lot of people have adverse effects, many of which are explained by the website -- especially common is Rhabdomyolysis, a negative impact on muscles.

Women should read this article: http://www.whp-apsf.ca/pdf/statinsEvidenceCaution.pdf
Statins seem to be dangerous for women of child-bearing age with special caution for pregnant women.

My point is that some further research could be appropriate ...

[grasswire]

3. but how is inflammation treated?

Aside from an antibiotic for a low-grade infection, what are the possible therapies?

I have tried this past year to resolve a low-grade ear and tonsil infection just because I worry about the cardiac implications. I could not get the doctor to order a c-reactive protein test. And I sure as hell could not get the doctor to consider an antibiotic, even though there is recurring pain and swollen glands.