Men, Women and Statins
By Health DayDoes a common medicine prescribed to protect the heart work as well in women as in men? MultimediaMillions of Americans are now taking statin drugs. These are intended to lower your cholesterol, which in turn may help protect you from heart disease. However, experts don't know as much about how well these drugs work in women. Researchers recently looked at the results of 18 earlier studies. What did they find? Heart attacks, heart-related deaths, and other heart problems were less likely in those who took a statin drug. BOTH MALE AND FEMALE PATIENTS WHO TOOK THIS MEDICINE WERE ABOUT 20 PERCENT less likely to have these problems. They were also less likely to die in general. The study found benefits both for women with a history of heart problems and women who'd never had heart issues. Statins can be helpful, but they're not for everyone. Before prescribing a statin, your doctor will want to discuss other issues that put your heart at risk, including whether: * You smoke * Have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a sedentary lifestyle * You're overweight * Or you have a family history of heart disease. I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news that doctors are reading; health news that matters to you. Most Popular |
WNKY Weather
Current Temp
43.0 °F
Fair
Wind
:
East at 10.4 MPH (9 KT)
Humidity
:
53 %
Pressure
:
1025.6 mb
YouNews
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
AP Video |
Recycling |
