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Polypill' May Cut Heart Attack, Stroke Risk up to 40%

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Polypill' May Cut Heart Attack, Stroke Risk up to 40% VOLUME 11 | JANUARY 2021 Combo 'Polypill' May Cut Heart Attack, Stroke Risk Up to 40% A single pill loaded with cholesterol and blood pressure medications can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke by as much as 40%, a new international study reports. The "polypill" containing three generic blood pressure medications and a statin High-Dose Vitamin D dramatically reduced the risk of heart-related Won't Prevent Seniors' illness in people with no prior history of heart Falls: Study. 2 problems, according to clinical trial results. When taken on its own, the polypill reduced by about 20% the risk of heart attack, stroke, procedures to reopen clogged arteries and other heart disease, the researchers reported. The polypill combined with daily low-dose For the trial, more than 5,700 people from nine aspirin was even more eective, reducing countries were randomly assigned to one of heart health problems by up to 40%, the four groups. They were asked to take one of the ndings showed. following daily: both the polypill and aspirin, A 'Stunning' Alternative the polypill alone, aspirin alone, or only Rx for Arthritic Joints?. 3 "We've estimated that if even just one-half of a placebo. people with high blood pressure or diabetes were treated with such a polypill, at least The polypill used in this study included somewhere between 2 and 4 million cholesterol-lowering simvastatin and three premature deaths, heart attacks and strokes blood pressure meds (a beta blocker called would be avoided every year," said lead atenolol, a diuretic called hydrochlorothiazide researcher Dr. Salim Yusuf, a professor of and an ACE inhibitor called ramipril). medicine at McMaster University in Canada. Compared with placebo, the polypill Such a polypill would have other benets as successfully lowered blood pressure and well, Yusuf said. It would be easier for patients, cholesterol, the investigators found. who wouldn't have to juggle stfuls of daily medications, and for doctors who'd only have Only 4.4% of those who took the polypill alone Can You Stop COVID to write one prescription. A single pill also is had a heart attack, stroke, artery-reopening Precautions Once You cheaper to market and distribute. procedure or died of heart disease, compared Get Vaccinated? . 4 to 5.5% who took the placebo. About 4.1% of "I personally would just like to get people to those who took aspirin alone developed use the components either separately or heart-related illness, compared to 4.7% of those together. If it's more convenient together, why with the placebo. not?" Yusuf said. Combining a polypill with aspirin provided the The study results were published online Nov. best benets, the study authors said. 13 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Con�nues on Page 2 January 2021 The polypill/aspirin combination reduced big pharma company is willing to invest a heart problems and deaths by 31%, the lot of money in developing and marketing researchers discovered. People who continued a polypill. It may require either health to take the pill without interruption for insurance companies or governments or about four years saw a 40% reduced risk of charitable organizations to develop heart problems. polypills." "When you look at the combination of aspirin There also might be some reluctance and the polypill, you denitely see a among doctors to prescribe a pill loaded meaningful reduction in cardiovascular with a number of dierent medications, events," said Dr. Eugene Yang, chair-elect of Yang added. the American College of Cardiology's Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Council. "We've all been taught in medical school you need to give one drug at a time and In the United States, such a polypill could be a see what it does before you add a second valuable tool in protecting the heart health of one," Yang said. people who have less access to health care, A single pill loaded with cholesterol and Yang said. The study was 95% funded by charitable blood pressure medications can reduce your organizations like the Wellcome Trust UK risk of heart attack and stroke by as much as "With the health care disparities that exist in and government agencies, Yang said. The 40%, a new international study reports. this country, there could be opportunities Indian company Cadila Pharmaceuticals where a polypill in the United States would be provided 5% of the funding, which The "polypill" containing three generic blood benecial," Yang said. included production and distribution of pressure medications and a statin the polypills. dramatically reduced the risk of heart-related Currently, no such cholesterol/blood pressure illness in people with no prior history of heart polypill exists in the United States, Yusuf said. The researchers presented their ndings problems, according to clinical trial results. 1816 over the weekend at this year's virtual Yang pointed out that "the fact that it's meeting of the American Heart Stethoscope invented by French physician, generic is a double-edged sword, because no Association. When taken on its own, the polypill reduced Rene Theophile Hyacinth Laennec by about 20% the risk of heart attack, stroke, procedures to reopen clogged arteries and other heart disease, the researchers reported. High-Dose Vitamin D Won't Prevent Seniors' The polypill combined with daily low-dose For the trial, more than 5,700 people from nine Falls: Study aspirin was even more eective, reducing countries were randomly assigned to one of heart health problems by up to 40%, the four groups. They were asked to take one of the ndings showed. following daily: both the polypill and aspirin, High doses of vitamin D may increase seniors' Taking 1,000 or more international units per day the polypill alone, aspirin alone, or only risk of falls, rather than reduce it, according to a (IU/day), equivalent to 25 micrograms/day of "We've estimated that if even just one-half of a placebo. new study. vitamin D, was no better than 200 IU/day at people with high blood pressure or diabetes preventing falls, according to the study, which was were treated with such a polypill, at least The polypill used in this study included Preliminary studies suggested vitamin D may funded by the U.S. National Institute on Aging. somewhere between 2 and 4 million cholesterol-lowering simvastatin and three 1960 increase muscle strength and improve balance, premature deaths, heart attacks and strokes blood pressure meds (a beta blocker called so Johns Hopkins researchers investigated The results were published Dec. 8 in the journal would be avoided every year," said lead atenolol, a diuretic called hydrochlorothiazide First oral contraceptive approved by FDA whether high doses of vitamin D might reduce Annals of Internal Medicine. researcher Dr. Salim Yusuf, a professor of and an ACE inhibitor called ramipril). the risk of falls in people aged 70 and older. medicine at McMaster University in Canada. The researchers also found that vitamin D Compared with placebo, the polypill But the investigators found that large doses of supplement doses of 2,000 and 4,000 IU/day Such a polypill would have other benets as successfully lowered blood pressure and vitamin D supplements were no better at seemed to increase the risk and severity of falls well, Yusuf said. It would be easier for patients, cholesterol, the investigators found. preventing falls in this age group than a low dose. compared with 1,000 IU/day, a relatively common who wouldn't have to juggle stfuls of daily dose for a pure vitamin D supplement. medications, and for doctors who'd only have Only 4.4% of those who took the polypill alone "There's no benet of higher doses but several to write one prescription. A single pill also is had a heart attack, stroke, artery-reopening signals of potential harm," study author Dr. Another nding was that serious falls and falls that cheaper to market and distribute. procedure or died of heart disease, compared Lawrence Appel said in a Hopkins news release. required hospitalization occurred more often in to 5.5% who took the placebo. About 4.1% of older people who took 1,000 or more IU/day than "I personally would just like to get people to those who took aspirin alone developed 1962 "A lot of people think if a little bit is helpful, a lot in those who took 200 IU/day (about half the use the components either separately or heart-related illness, compared to 4.7% of those will be better. But for some vitamins, high-dose typical dose found in multivitamins). supplements pose more risks than benets. together. If it's more convenient together, why with the placebo. First arthroscopic meniscectomy not?" Yusuf said. performed on a 17-year-old boy who There's a real possibility that higher doses of Older folks should talk with their doctors about Combining a polypill with aspirin provided the twisted his knee by Dr. Masaki Watanabe vitamin D increase the risk and severity of falls," their fall risk and vitamin D levels in order to The study results were published online Nov. best benets, the study authors said. said Appel, a professor of medicine with joint determine whether or not to continue taking 13 in the New England Journal of Medicine. appointments in epidemiology, international vitamin D supplements, Appel recommended. health and nursing. January 2021 A 'Stunning' Alternative Rx for Arthritic Joints? A procedure that "stuns" pain-sensing nerves might oer relief to people with severe arthritis of the hip or shoulder, a small, preliminary study suggests. The procedure is a form of radiofrequency ablation, where doctors use needles to send a low-grade electrical current to nerves that are transmitting pain signals from the arthritic joint to the brain.
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