Crestor May Save Lives

A large study has been done on the use of Crestor, the cholesterol lowering drug. It was found that people with low cholesterol and no big risks for heart disease had dramatically lower rates of heart attacks, death and stroke if they took Crestor. This was reported last Sunday at a conference of the American Heart Association. They were quite excited about this study and that it could prevent heart disease.

It could lead to as many as 7 million more Americans considering taking the cholesterol lowering drugs such as Crestor, Lipitor, Zocor or in the generic form. The study gives the best evidence for using a new test to find people who would not otherwise be considered in need of treatment. Some doctors are urging caution though because there are so few deaths among those who are at low risk of heart attacks and it could cost as much as $9 billion a year to treat all these people. It is something to think about. I don't think I would take them as I am low risk and there are side effects to these drugs and I know people who have had such side effects.

Statins Are Life Saving for Strokes

People who stop taking their cholesterol lowing drugs after a stroke are at much greater risk of death, according to the latest research.The small scale study from Spain found the chances of dying, or requiring full-time care were nearly five times higher if statins were interrupted. The article, in the journal Neurology, advises doctors to continue giving the drugs to stroke patients. But experts called for bigger studies before recommendations be made.