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Do Cholesterol Drugs Do Any Good?
Bloomberg Business Week ^ | 01/17/2008 | John Carey

Posted on 01/06/2011 6:16:40 PM PST by Pining_4_TX

Yes, Wright saw, the drugs can be life-saving in patients who already have suffered heart attacks, somewhat reducing the chances of a recurrence that could lead to an early death. But Wright had a surprise when he looked at the data for the majority of patients, like Winn, who don't have heart disease. He found no benefit in people over the age of 65, no matter how much their cholesterol declines, and no benefit in women of any age. He did see a small reduction in the number of heart attacks for middle-aged men taking statins in clinical trials. But even for these men, there was no overall reduction in total deaths or illnesses requiring hospitalization—despite big reductions in "bad" cholesterol. "Most people are taking something with no chance of benefit and a risk of harm," says Wright. Based on the evidence, and the fact that Winn didn't actually have angina, Wright changed his mind about treating him with statins—and Winn, too, was persuaded. "Because there's no apparent benefit," he says, "I don't take them anymore."

(Excerpt) Read more at businessweek.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: cholesterol; heartdisease; statins
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Yes, this is an old article, but it has important information about statins, cholesterol, and how data from studies are "managed" to make drugs seem more effective than they really are. Once again, results are reported in terms of a relative risk rather than absolute, where a small number of events magically becomes a large percentage.
1 posted on 01/06/2011 6:16:43 PM PST by Pining_4_TX
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To: neverdem

ping


2 posted on 01/06/2011 6:18:58 PM PST by Pining_4_TX
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To: Pining_4_TX

Some people’s bodies make lots of cholesterol. For them it’s a life saver. Most of us don’t need drugs, just proper diet and exercise.


3 posted on 01/06/2011 6:20:10 PM PST by Cisco Nix (Real Conservatives stay sober and focused)
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To: Pining_4_TX

What are our brains made of?


4 posted on 01/06/2011 6:20:42 PM PST by goodwithagun (My gun has killed fewer people than Ted Kennedy's car.)
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To: Pining_4_TX

Well, they do make some people very wealthy. Can that be a good?


5 posted on 01/06/2011 6:21:50 PM PST by savagesusie
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To: Pining_4_TX

It just depends on the individual.


6 posted on 01/06/2011 6:21:54 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously..... You won't live through it anyway.)
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To: Cisco Nix

Welcome to FR


7 posted on 01/06/2011 6:22:24 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously..... You won't live through it anyway.)
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To: goodwithagun

I wuz told mine was made of nothing...


8 posted on 01/06/2011 6:23:04 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously..... You won't live through it anyway.)
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To: goodwithagun
What are our brains made of?

Mostly cholesterol? And if you lost all your cholesterol, the cells of your body would fall apart into soon to be no longer twitching goo.
9 posted on 01/06/2011 6:23:39 PM PST by aruanan
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To: Pining_4_TX
Get off your Asus and get some exercise and less Dorito’s in front of the TV

What is the major mystery about it?

10 posted on 01/06/2011 6:23:39 PM PST by Mr. K
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To: Pining_4_TX

“Do Cholesterol Drugs Do Any Good?”

They do, but to corp profits. Nothing beats a healthy lifestyle


11 posted on 01/06/2011 6:24:02 PM PST by mewykwistmas
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To: Pining_4_TX

I was prescribed statins but then, after net research, rejected them before even taking one pill. I ate lots of oatmeal instead and brought down my cholesterol from 230’s to 180’s in about six months.

However, I am having a to fight off an urge to join the Quaker Church. Dang, there are side effects to everything.


12 posted on 01/06/2011 6:24:12 PM PST by HerrBlucher ("It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged." G.K. Chesterton)
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To: aruanan

Ding ding ding! We have a winner! Anybody know why “healthy cholesterol levels” have been set lower and lower over the past few years?


13 posted on 01/06/2011 6:25:59 PM PST by goodwithagun (My gun has killed fewer people than Ted Kennedy's car.)
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To: Pining_4_TX

Bfl


14 posted on 01/06/2011 6:26:17 PM PST by tutstar
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To: Pining_4_TX

One will get much better results from daily doses of high potency Omega 3 oils (most often fish oil fatty acids) and Turmeric. These two supplements are cheap and they work... to reduce inflammation in the entire body - including the coronary arteries... which is as important or even more important that reducing cholesterol... There are some reported Cholesterol reducing effects too...

Available at most any drug store... Plus there are practically no side effects....


15 posted on 01/06/2011 6:26:48 PM PST by ICCtheWay
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To: decimon; HuntsvilleTxVeteran; Walkingfeather

ping


16 posted on 01/06/2011 6:27:54 PM PST by Pining_4_TX
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To: Cisco Nix

Only those with genetic hypelipidemia is it helpful. It hurts all always.


17 posted on 01/06/2011 6:28:28 PM PST by traderrob6
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To: ICCtheWay

Have you read Anti-Cancer by Dr. David Servant-Schreiber?


18 posted on 01/06/2011 6:28:59 PM PST by goodwithagun (My gun has killed fewer people than Ted Kennedy's car.)
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To: Pining_4_TX

Heart attacks are due to mostly to chronic inflammation of the blood vessels.


19 posted on 01/06/2011 6:28:59 PM PST by devere
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To: HerrBlucher

“However, I am having a to fight off an urge to join the Quaker Church. Dang, there are side effects to everything.”

Ha, ha, ha... Did you hair grow down to your shoulders and turn white, too?


20 posted on 01/06/2011 6:29:48 PM PST by Pining_4_TX
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