Cholesterol Management News & Features

Statins are the most popular type of cholesterol-lowering drug in the United States, prescribed to more than 35 million people.

75 or Older? Statins Can Benefit Your Heart By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter TUESDAY, July 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Older adults with healthy hearts probably would benefit from taking a cholesterol-lowering statin, a new study contends.People 75 and older who were free of heart disease and prescribed a statin wound up with a 25% lower risk of death from any cause and a 20% lower risk of heart-related death, researchers reported July 7 in the Journal of the American Medical Association."Based on these data, age is not a reason to not prescribe statins," said lead

Nexletol is a daily pill approved for people with a genetic predisposition for high cholesterol and for heart disease patients who need to further reduce their bad cholesterol.

The study couldn't prove cause and effect, but it found that statins, taken alone or with metformin, did seem associated with an increase in survival.

The new global study involved data on more than 400,000 people from 38 different trials. Their health was tracked for an average of more than 13 years, but some were followed for up to 43 years.

While the AHA comes out in favor of prescription fish oil supplements, it does not do the same for over-the-counter supplements.

Patients are 16% more likely to have a heart-related health crisis if their PCSK9 prescription is rejected than if it is covered and filled for a year, according to researchers.

Experts say doctors need to come up with better ways to talk with patients about statins and the drugs' perceived side effects, especially if the person has stopped taking them.

Red yeast rice supplements are made by mixing fermented steamed rice with food fungus. It's commonly used as an alternative to statins to lower high cholesterol.

As Americans have embraced low-carb diets, many have turned to eggs as a reliable protein source. According to industry data, the average American will eat more eggs in 2019 than any time for the past 20 years.

After a year of testing, the new drug, bempedoic acid, lowered "bad" LDL cholesterol levels by 18 percentage points, researchers found.

The new drug’s price would have to be reduced by 86 percent to be considered cost-effective for treating "bad" LDL cholesterol.

The benefits of statins are clear, and side effects from the cholesterol-fighting drugs are rare, according to a new analysis of decades of scientific research.

Nearly one of every three American adults have high levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol, which contributes to fatty plaque buildup and narrowing of the arteries, the AHA said. People with LDL levels of 100 mg/dL or lower tend to have lower rates of heart disease and stroke.

Very high blood levels of the “good” HDL cholesterol may actually be bad for you, new research suggest. The study linked it to a higher risk for heart attack, and even death, among patients who already had heart problems or who faced a higher risk of developing heart disease.

The investigators also looked at a subgroup of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic disorder that causes extremely high cholesterol that increases the risk of early heart disease.

Heart experts are cautiously embracing the results of a new, landmark clinical trial that questions the value of opening blocked arteries to relieve chest pain.

Maybe, but heart benefits likely outweigh any potential risk from the drugs, experts say

Study found taking them lowered risk of heart disease, death in those with high LDL levels

But drug maker, heart experts question methodology of analysis

Study findings on Repatha are 'reassuring,' but expert wants longer follow-up

Eating them can reduce your risk of heart disease as effectively as statins, heart experts say

But specialists cite research flaws, limitations

Doctors, patients often confused by differing advisories on the cholesterol-lowering drugs

Survey found they know it raises heart risks, but are confused, discouraged about how to lower it