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February 1st marks the start of American Heart Month,
an annual awareness effort from the American Heart Association
to bring attention to cardiovascular disease being our
nation’s No. 1 killer. And while it’s important to bring
this issue to light, I wonder if there is enough focus
on how lifestyle choices impact heart health.
Statin drugs are the most commonly prescribed drugs in
medicine. They’re used to treat high cholesterol as well
as reduce heart attack risk in people with heart disease.
With the high rates of obesity in this country—a direct
result of the Standard American Diet (SAD)—it doesn’t
surprise me that this drug is so widely used.
Some controversy surrounds the widespread use of this
drug, however. Not long ago, it was suggested that a
certain statin drug be prescribed for obese children
as young as 8 years old, even though no long-term safety
studies on the use of the drug in children have been
performed. Later, it was suggested that people with high
levels of C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation)
be prescribed the drug, even if they had normal blood
lipid levels. Statins were being touted as the new wonder
drug, and it seemed doctors wanted everyone to be on
one.
But hold it just a moment.
What about looking at diet
and lifestyle as a way to reduce cholesterol and heart
disease risk?
Why is this not a stronger focus?
Simple—because
lifestyle changes just aren’t profitable for the big
drug companies.
And now, a study from the National Heart and Lung Institute
in London has found that taking a statin drug has the
effect of cancelling out the risk of heart attack that
comes with eating a cheeseburger and milkshake. What’s
more, they actually suggested that a free, over-the-counter
statin drug be given out at fast food restaurants for
this very purpose.
Seriously? That makes about as much sense as handing
out high blood pressure medicine at scary movies.
Best wishes for a healthy New Year,
Brenda Watson, C.N.C. |
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