Guest guest Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 Re these meds . Here in the Uk theya re encouraging you to take these. They are available over the counter with out a prescription. C Statin Drugs > FYI- Jerry > > Group Urges Review of New Statin Drug Advice > 09/23/2004 18:14:55 > By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent > WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Consumer advocates backed by some prominent doctors > and researchers on Thursday questioned a new U.S. policy recommending wider use > of statin drugs to lower cholesterol. > The new guidelines, published in July, suggest that people who once thought > their cholesterol levels were fine should take statin drugs to get them even > lower. > The National Institutes of Health and the National Cholesterol Education > Program panel that issued the guidelines cited several studies showing that people > who used statins greatly lowered their risk of heart disease. > But the Center for Science in the Public Interest disputed the interpretation > of the studies and accused the panel members of having been influenced by > their connections to drug companies. > " There is strong evidence to suggest that an objective, independent > reevaluation of the scientific evidence from the five new studies of statin therapy wou > ld lead to different conclusions than those presented by the current NCEP, " > reads the CSPI letter, signed by 35 cardiologists, nutritionists and other > health professionals. > " The studies cited do not demonstrate that statins benefit women of any age > or men over 70 who do not already have heart disease, " said Abramson, a > clinical instructor in primary care at Harvard Medical School, who signed the > letter. > " Furthermore, we are concerned about the findings from one of the five cited > studies showing that statin therapy significantly increases the risk of cancer > in the elderly. " > The new guidelines say that high-risk people -- who have had a heart attack, > diabetes, chest pain, or surgery to clear blocked blood vessels -- should aim > for a low-density lipoprotein or " bad " cholesterol level of 70 instead of the > usual 100. > Those considered at moderate risk are now told to take drugs if their LDL is > 130 or above. > The guidelines do mention that lifestyle changes can lower cholesterol too, > and say that drugs should not be prescribed without advice to exercise and eat > more fruits, vegetables and fiber and less fat. > But the CSPI letter says the guidelines give this advice only a cursory > mention. > " Eight of the nine authors of the July recommendations have financial ties to > statin manufacturers, including Pfizer (Inc. ), Merck (and Co. Inc. ), > Bristol-Myers Squibb, and AstraZeneca -- a fact that was not disclosed when the > recommendations were first published in the journal Circulation, " the letter reads. > Many researchers have financial ties to drug companies but the issue has > received more prominence in recent years as groups such as the CSPI question > whether such relationships may influence medical research. > " We have abundant, strong evidence to support the ... guidelines and we are > in the process of formulating a response to the CSPI, " said Sagusti, a > spokeswoman for the NIH's National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 Re these meds . Here in the Uk theya re encouraging you to take these. They are available over the counter with out a prescription. C Statin Drugs > FYI- Jerry > > Group Urges Review of New Statin Drug Advice > 09/23/2004 18:14:55 > By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent > WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Consumer advocates backed by some prominent doctors > and researchers on Thursday questioned a new U.S. policy recommending wider use > of statin drugs to lower cholesterol. > The new guidelines, published in July, suggest that people who once thought > their cholesterol levels were fine should take statin drugs to get them even > lower. > The National Institutes of Health and the National Cholesterol Education > Program panel that issued the guidelines cited several studies showing that people > who used statins greatly lowered their risk of heart disease. > But the Center for Science in the Public Interest disputed the interpretation > of the studies and accused the panel members of having been influenced by > their connections to drug companies. > " There is strong evidence to suggest that an objective, independent > reevaluation of the scientific evidence from the five new studies of statin therapy wou > ld lead to different conclusions than those presented by the current NCEP, " > reads the CSPI letter, signed by 35 cardiologists, nutritionists and other > health professionals. > " The studies cited do not demonstrate that statins benefit women of any age > or men over 70 who do not already have heart disease, " said Abramson, a > clinical instructor in primary care at Harvard Medical School, who signed the > letter. > " Furthermore, we are concerned about the findings from one of the five cited > studies showing that statin therapy significantly increases the risk of cancer > in the elderly. " > The new guidelines say that high-risk people -- who have had a heart attack, > diabetes, chest pain, or surgery to clear blocked blood vessels -- should aim > for a low-density lipoprotein or " bad " cholesterol level of 70 instead of the > usual 100. > Those considered at moderate risk are now told to take drugs if their LDL is > 130 or above. > The guidelines do mention that lifestyle changes can lower cholesterol too, > and say that drugs should not be prescribed without advice to exercise and eat > more fruits, vegetables and fiber and less fat. > But the CSPI letter says the guidelines give this advice only a cursory > mention. > " Eight of the nine authors of the July recommendations have financial ties to > statin manufacturers, including Pfizer (Inc. ), Merck (and Co. Inc. ), > Bristol-Myers Squibb, and AstraZeneca -- a fact that was not disclosed when the > recommendations were first published in the journal Circulation, " the letter reads. > Many researchers have financial ties to drug companies but the issue has > received more prominence in recent years as groups such as the CSPI question > whether such relationships may influence medical research. > " We have abundant, strong evidence to support the ... guidelines and we are > in the process of formulating a response to the CSPI, " said Sagusti, a > spokeswoman for the NIH's National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 > > > Re these meds . Here in the Uk theya re encouraging you to take > these. They > > are available over the counter with out a prescription. > > I'm getting a sense of deja vu here. I took hrt for about ten years, because it was supposed to be the greatest thing since sliced bread - not only for menopausal symptoms, but for the heart, delaying alzheimers, etc. Then, far later than they should have, they find out it's actually damaging. So I basically put myself at risk for no reason, since had I had the slightest idea it was dangerous, I never would have taken it. What they say now about statins may well be true, but how can we know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 Trudy I could not agree more with you. I feel this is the drug companies smelling money. Cheers C Re: Statin Drugs > >> >> > Re these meds . Here in the Uk theya re encouraging you to take >> these. They >> > are available over the counter with out a prescription. >> > > > I'm getting a sense of deja vu here. I took hrt for about ten years, > because it was supposed to be the greatest thing since sliced bread - > not only for menopausal symptoms, but for the heart, delaying > alzheimers, etc. Then, far later than they should have, they find out > it's actually damaging. > > So I basically put myself at risk for no reason, since had I had the > slightest idea it was dangerous, I never would have taken it. > > What they say now about statins may well be true, but how can we know? > > > > > Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com > List owner: AFIBsupport-owner > For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email, > send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help > > Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should > be acted upon without consultation with one's physician. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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