I heard on the radio that the U.S. food and drug administration has approved the cholesterol lowering drug "Crestor" for use in people without cholesterol problems.
Apparently there are already 40 million people taking cholesterol lowering drugs, including Lipitor, out of the apparently 80 million people in the U.S. who might have high cholesterol.
This new directive was based on a test of people who have a high degree of inflammation in their body. Apparently of those people, taking Crestor will reduce your chance of a heart attack by something like 50%.
On the surface, this looks like good odds, until you read that only 2 out of 1,000 will have a heart attack anyhow. So maybe this reduces it to 1 1/2 out of 1,000. However the health risks associated with taking the drug far outweigh the possible benefit. Liver problems, muscle aches, etc.
What I have an issue with is that because of the accelerated approval, the drug companies are now going to mount a huge advertising campaign that will tell people who don't have problems, to take their drug. This is the first time I have heard of a prescription drug that can be given to people without the problem the drug was designed to help with.
This whole cholestrerol thing is blown way out of proportion anyhow. If people would just exercise a little more, and learn how to control their eating habits, they wouldn't need to be on drugs in the first place.
Just finished my 6 mile morning walk & am eating my oatmeal for breakfast. I couldn't agree more heartily.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree wholeheartedly. Steveio was diagnosed 9 months ago with high cholestrol and borderline diabetic. Doc gave him 6 month to make changes or go on drugs the rest of his life.
ReplyDeleteThrough very HUGE changes for him, he brought down all his levels now to middle of the acceptable ranges for all his numbers! Wheeeeee
No more greasy fried chicken, bowls of greasy chips, juicy bratwurst and fast food. He eats much better and has changed his entire method of eating. I am so proud of him!
He has LOTS of miles to drive that motorhome yet, so we need to keep him HEALTHY!
Karen and Steve
Anonymous...Keep up the great work,lets not give those drug companies our hard earned money!
ReplyDeleteKarenInTheWoods and Steveio... Way to go Steveio. It takes a bit of work at the beginning, but then just becomes part of our lives and your don't even think about it after time. Now you can enjoy all those extra miles and dollars that you have saved on not buying the drugs.
It's sad, really sad. People just aren't educated enough to figure out for themselves that eating healthy and getting out there (and not to mcdonald's) is the best thing you can do for your body.
ReplyDeleteAfter more people take this drug and suffer the symptoms, there will be another drug available to off set that too. It's called capitalism. The more money you make, the more money you want.
Drug companies already have alot of money. They aren't getting mine.
I am going to get a new mountain bike tho :))
When I was younger I was on Lipitor, mainly due to my bad eating.
ReplyDeleteI had to see my Grandfather lose a leg and a half to diabetes before I was like enough!
Since then I've dropped nearly 30lbs, dropped my Blood pressure by 20points. I haven't checked my cholesterol in awhile but I'm hoping it to be back to normal. My last count was 245.
Besides I have a lot of RV'ing I want to do with the family.