RightHealth Daily Dose » cholesterol

Mail-Order Pharmacies Enhance Adherence

Steven — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:40:20 +0000

A new UCLA study shows that patients who choose to use mail-order pharmacies demonstrated higher rates of adherence to their prescribed medications than those who used traditional pharmacies. Nearly 85% of mail-order pharmacy patrons took their medications as prescribed by their doctor, compared to 77% of traditional pharmacy patrons. As well, more people who used mail-order pharmacies chose to do so because of financial incentives (mail-order pharmacies are often able to offer very competitive prices, compared to traditional pharmacies). The researchers studied people with chronic diseases – diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure – which is important since management often requires lifelong pharmacotherapy. “Our findings indicate that mail-order pharmacies streamline the medication acquisition process, which is associated with better medication adherence,” said lead researcher, Dr. O. Kenrik Duru. [via Yahoo! News]

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Keep The Beat: Recipes For Heart Health

Steven — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:29:13 +0000

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has published an update to their popular cookbook entitled “Keep The Beat.” It’s a collection of recipes that are limited in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, and sodium, as well as being moderate in calories. The majority of the recipes were created in collaboration with Culinary Institute of America-trained chef and instructor David Kamen and a James Beard Foundation award-winning registered dietitian based on guidelines from NHLBI. For those with heart disease, or those who simply want to eat healthier, it’s often difficult to find nutritionally sound recipes that are delicious at the same time. Costing only a nominal $5 it may just be the healthiest pocket change you spent in a while. The book can be purchased at the NHLBI website. [via NIH News]

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Natural Alternative For Cholesterol Therapy

Steven — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:29:21 +0000

Integrative medicine is a hot field right now with more and more patients exploring complimentary and alternative treatments. Why shouldn’t some of these remedies work? After all, plenty of medicines are derived from the nature around us. One such example is lovastatin (also known by the brand name Mevacor), a medication used to lower cholesterol which is derived from red yeast rice, a supplement used in Traditional Chinese Medicine since 800 A.D. that’s produced by cultivating a red-colored mold on rice. A study published in the current issue of Annals of Internal Medicine demonstrates the efficacy of red yeast rice in improving the lipid profiles of people with high cholesterol. When compared with another popular cholesterol-lowering medication, simvastatin (Zocor), red yeast rice was able to lower LDL levels just as effectively. But, similar to prescription lipid-lowering drugs, red yeast rice can have similar side effects on the liver and muscles. So why isn’t your physician recommending red yeast rice? The reasons are plenty, but one main cause is the currently under-regulated U.S. supplements industry where it may be difficult to accurately know how much of a medicinally active ingredient you are receiving, and consistently so. Regardless, red yeast rice may be a viable alternative for cholesterol reduction in certain people who may not be able to tolerate synthetically manufactured medications due to their side effects. [via Annals of Internal Medicine]

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What To Do If Your Health Insurance Is Expiring

Steven — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 04:50:32 +0000

I’ve had quite a number of patients come in lately for general check-ups because they will soon be losing their job-sponsored health insurance coverage. I commend them for coming in. After all, late is sometimes better than never. Therefore, for today’s post I’d like to share some tips on things you should consider when your coverage is about to end.

1. Get an annual physical exam, including a skin check for possible skin cancers. It could get pricey should you need a biopsy and subsequent treatment.

2. Get your routine tests done. Those over 50 years of age should get a colonoscopy every 10 years. Women over 40 should have an annual mammogram. Women should also get annual pap smears.

3. Know your numbers: check your blood pressure, cholesterol, basic chemistries, urine analysis.

4. If you’re a smoker, speak to your doctor about ways to help you quit. Quitting smoking greatly reduces your risk of cancers and cardiovascular disease.

5. Ask your doctor about your risk for osteoporosis. In general all women over the age of 65 should get a DEXA bone densitometry scan at least once.

6. Speak to your doctor about weight loss. Keeping your weight under control can reduce your risk of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, and high cholesterol, among a multitude of other diseases.

7. Get a flu shot and update your vaccinations. For adults these may include hepatitis A and B, herpes zoster (shingles), Tdap, chickenpox. If you are aged 65 or older you should have a pneumovax vaccination as well.

8. Refill your medications. Depending on the medicine, it may be possible for your physician to give you more refills. Similarly, if you are diabetic make sure your doctor gives you plenty of refills for glucose testing supplies.

*There are always exceptions to the rules. These are only general guidelines. Speak to your doctor to find out what is appropriate for you.

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Cholesterol Medicines Linked To Muscle Damage

Steven — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:52:01 +0000

A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal reports that the common complaints of muscular weakness and pain in patients taking statins are in fact due to structural muscle damage caused by the use of these medications. The statin drugs are the most widely used medications in the treatment of elevated cholesterol levels and in reduction of cardiovascular disease risk. By looking at muscle biopsies, researchers noted that those who have taken statins have significant muscle injury, compared to those who have never taken statins. There have been reports of people falling due to muscle weakness, as well as cases of decreased fine motor control. Most will regain muscle function after stopping the medication. However, a small group of patients may continue to have persistent muscle problems. Statins currently available in the US are Atorvastatin (Lipitor), Fluvastatin (Lescol), Lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev), Pravastatin (Pravachol), Rosuvastatin (Crestor), Simvastatin (Zocor). They are also found in the following combination drugs: Advicor (lovastatin + niacin), Caduet (atorvastatin + amlodipine), and Vytorin (simvastatin + ezetimibe).

Triglycerides May Predict Worsening Diabetic Nerve Damage

Steven — Wed, 20 May 2009 06:13:33 +0000

Researchers from University of Michigan and Wayne State University are publishing the results of their study on the effects of triglycerides on diabetic neuropathy, a condition whereby nerves are damaged due to the progression of diabetes, often resulting in numbness, tingling, and pain in the feet, hands, legs and arms. Triglycerides are a type of fat that’s produced by the body. It’s a standard component to the “cholesterol test” which almost every person has had done. Elevated triglycerides can play a role in cardiovascular disease, and now this new study is suggesting that patients with high levels of triglycerides are more likely to experience worsening of their neuropathy. This is important because until now doctors couldn’t necessarily predict which patients will have a decline in their neuropathy. Now we may be able to target those patients with elevated triglycerides in hopes of slowing disease progression.

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Cheerios Considered A Drug, Says FDA

Steven — Thu, 14 May 2009 06:04:19 +0000

In a warning letter to General Mills, makers of the popular Cheerios Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal, the FDA is claiming that the marketing of Cheerios qualifies it as a drug because of its claims in reducing cholesterol. The phrases in question include “you can Lower Your Cholesterol 4% in 6 weeks” and “Did you know that in just 6 weeks Cheerios can reduce bad cholesterol by an average of 4 percent?” According to the FDA these statements violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which defines what a drug is. General Mills has 15 days to address the violation in question. Read the FDA letter.

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Fast Food Triggers Alzheimer’s In Mice

Steven — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:12:53 +0000

New insight into Alzheimer’s disease was reported by researchers at the Karolinska Institute this week. Scientists studying mouse models of the disease showed that when mice were fed with fast food products high in fat, sugar and cholesterol, they developed more “brain tangles” that lead to development of Alzheimer’s. These tangles of protein that develope in the brain are one of the hallmarks of the disease. Even though this is a mouse study, and the results may not necessarily be translated to humans, it’s yet another reason to consume less fast food and processed foods.

Music For Your Heart

Steven — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:49:00 +0000

Regular aerobic exercise has been extensively studied and is known to have long-term cardiac benefits. However, did you know that listening to your favorite tune can dilate your blood vessels the same way exercise or drugs used to treat high blood pressure and cholesterol do? Researchers have shown that when people listen to music that makes them feel good (you pick the song) the effect of blood vessel dilation can last for almost an hour afterwords. Blood vessels that are able to react by dilating are termed as more “elastic.” More elastic vessels decrease the risk of atherosclerosis and blood clot formation that can lead to stroke and heart attacks.

Olive Leaf Extract Shows Promise For Hypertension, Cholesterol

Steven — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:04:44 +0000

Olive oil can combat coronary artery disease by lowering cholesterol so why not EFLA 943, an extract from olive leaves? Swiss and German researchers have found that taking 1000mg of this extract can lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels in patients with mild hypertension. Although this is a small pilot study, the possibility of a naturally occuring substance that can reduce two of the most common diseases of our time is certainly welcomed. Full story.

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