Posted on 10/30/2007 8:07:22 AM PDT by qam1
Use of cholesterol and blood pressure medicines by young adults appears to be rising rapidly — at a faster pace than among senior citizens, according to an industry report being released Tuesday.
Experts point to higher rates of obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol problems among young people. Also, doctors are getting more aggressive with preventive treatments.
"This is good news, that more people in this age range are taking these medicines," said Dr. Daniel W. Jones, president of the American Heart Association.
Still, he said many more people should be on the drugs that lower cholesterol or blood pressure and which have been shown to reduce risks for heart attack and stroke.
The new data, from prescription benefit manager Medco Health Solutions Inc., indicate use of cholesterol-lowering drugs among people aged 20 to 44, while still low, jumped 68 percent over a six-year period.
The rate rose from 2.5 percent in 2001 to just over 4 percent in 2006 among Medco customers. That means roughly 4.2 million Americans in that age group are now taking cholesterol medicines.
Meanwhile, use of blood pressure medicines increased 21 percent, from about 7 percent of 20- to 44-year-olds in 2001 to over 8 percent in 2006. That translates into about 8.5 million Americans in that age group taking drugs to lower their blood pressure.
"It was a surprise to us," said Dr. Robert Epstein, chief medical officer at Franklin Lakes, N.J.-based Medco. "Maybe the fact that we're seeing more young people with high cholesterol and blood pressure is indicative of the epidemic of obesity and overweight that we're seeing in this country."....
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
My 26-year-old wife takes a cholesterol drug — Welchol — but not for cholesterol. She needs it to be able to halfway digest fats, ever since she had her gall bladder out. (Any Freepers know home remedies for that?)
The assorted common myalgias ARE NOT the sign of a potentially deadly side effect. Rhabdomyolysisis is a qualitatively different animal. Experiencing the myalgias DOES NOT mean you are more likely to go rhabdo. However, you should go to a qualified physician to distinguish the two.
Tomorrow I am attending a beloved aunt’s funeral in rural Virginia. She died day before yesterday.
She would have been 94 this coming December. She lived alone way out in the country (had a daughter nearby), hadn’t been to town in years, and until two years ago she grew all her own vegetables, canned them, kept about an acre of land mowed with a riding mower, etc.
She had never seen a doctor except the ones who came to her house when she delivered her three kids in the early ‘30s, had never been to a hospital (she was scared of them). She believed in taking vitamen supplements and treated ailments with herbs she’d grow. She mostly ate homecanned veggies, but also ate bacon, sausage, chicken.
She became sick about two weeks ago and her children finally sent her to the hospital in an ambulance. I was at the hospital when the lady came into her room to get all her medical history info.
When the lady asked “ever been treated for this, that, ever been hospitalized, who is her primary doctor,” her daughter was saying no, no. The lady looked stunned. I said, “She’s never been to a doctor, wouldn’t go to one, she treated herself with herbs and vitamens.” The lady looked at the age on the papers and said “She must have done it right.”
The folks at the hospital were stumped, I don’t think they’d ever tried to treat a person with no medical history, no personal physician to consult. So, they just made her comfortable and she slipped peacefully away to her Lord.
I hope I have some of her genes, and her demeanor. She loved life, was the most gracious, loving, intelligent, and thoughful person I’ve ever known.
Like Oxycontin?
? Fact.
There apparently are some people with very high LDL levels who don’t experience adverse cardiovascular events. Must be a genetic difference in metabolism. But please don’t encourage other people to not take statins if they’re prescribed. That wouldn’t be a responsible thing to do. BTW, a locally well-known athlete died here last week at a youngish middle age of a heart attack.
If it doesn't work, don't use it.
You may have replied to a sarcastic post.
I forgot to add that my grandfather had also been a farmer all his life and worked until his last days. He was also an alcoholic in his earlier years, but had stopped drinking probably in his 50’s or 60’s. My maternal grandmother lived to be 93. She too grew all her own veggies and worked until she fell and broke a knee at age 87.
I think the main common thread I’ve seen in stories of longevity has been- hard work- never completely retire, exercise daily- even if it is just walking and working in the yard, grow your own food whenever possible so you know what is in it!
Roughly 25% of all heart attacks occur to people with low LDL.
Conversely, as you stated, many people with high LDL’s never have a problem.
Likewise, most people that smoke never get lung cancer. Does this fact support more smoking?
The flaw in logic here is the fact that people take the exception and apply it the general.
It’s a common and often tragically wrong way to approach a situation that deserves more careful thought and study.
No, that is a misquote of what I said. A few people may have a inherited difference in lipid metabolism -- a very special case.
I am so sorry girl. I know you were concerned about her. Did you get your mom to see her?
But how will you know it it isn't working without taking it for a couple months and then doing a lipid test? And the next bottle you buy may be entirely different.
LOL! Is that why he’s your “former” cardiologist? ;-)
They have been in business for 25 years. That is why I only buy from Nutrition Express
No they can’t. My husband has suffered with this for almost 2 years. Doctor said there’s nothing she can do. “Benefit outweighs the risk” I’m not so sure. Mine is elevated & I will not go on them. Ever. The side effects are brutal.
That’s why I’m hesitant to try to get my husband to use this stuff. I keep hearing about it but for all I know it’s imported form China containing who knows what or isn’t the same strength or formula from bottle to bottle.
The statins are bad news. There has to be a better alternative. But I haven’t found it yet.
If that actually happened he should be reported to your state's Medical Board. It is incumbent on you to do that.
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