MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'cholesterol'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:52:12 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5097075&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fis-over-counter-lipitor-in-cards-one.html (Source: Pharma Marketing Blog) Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5097075 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 12:04:00 +0100 5097075 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4997525&cid=t_103062_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fomega-3-fatty-acids-the-science-behind-their-potential-heart-health-benefits%2F2011.07.03 The Biology of Omega-3 fatty acids: (Just a little science:) When fish, flax-seeds or Brussels sprouts pass through the intestine, pancreatic enzymes transform the fat to free fatty acids. These acids are quickly taken up by the cells. Once in the cell, these fatty acids enter the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and cytosol–places that you might recall because your mom helped you make a Cell sponge cake in 7th grade Biology. In the cells, the Omega-3 fatty acids (ALA, DHA and EPA) exert their healthy influence in three major ways: in the control of chemical messengers; in the flux of ions—cell electricity; in the smoothness and health of the cell membrane. That’s enough about cells. How do these (good) fats help our bodies? Omega-3 fatty acids reduce Inflammation: –Omega-3s ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4997525 Sun, 03 Jul 2011 16:00:49 +0100 4997525 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4993025&cid=t_103062_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FUzbDmu94AUA%2F In conclusion, eating frequent meals is not the only solution to fat loss. This scientific finding is very important for people who simply can’t consume 6 meals every day, because of their job or their lifestyle in general.   Kate Cotros writes for the Diet Myths And Facts, a blog focused on revealing the truth about various diet and nutrition myths. She seeks to help others lose weight and regain their lost self-esteem.   Related Posts: 3 Proven Ways To Once & For All Defeat Procrastination The 4 Positive Price Points of Leadership   (Source: PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement) PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4993025 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 06:32:57 +0100 4993025 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984689&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FEygW_voyKzU%2F Rise and shine. Another glorious day is unfolding here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where we are moving along like a cool breeze. Of course, there is much to be done - phone calls, meetings, reading documents. You name it. And we know you can related. So grab that cup of stimulation - no excuses, please - and pick up your to-do list. Meanwhile, here are some tidbits from around your world. Have a good one… US Court Orders Seizure Of Cipla Pet Drug For Patent Violation (Dow Jones) Lilly Plans 10 Drug In Final-Stage Trials By End Of 2011 (Bloomberg News) Niaspan Prescriptions Fall After Negative Study Results (Dow Jones) Pfizer Signs Deal With Russian Venture Capital Firm For R&D (Associated Press) Forest Files COPD Drug For FDA Approval (Pharma Times) ‘Neurontin Kille... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984689 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:53:38 +0100 4984689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968472&cid=t_103062_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1391     A new study reported by Reuters from the  European Heart Journal describes the effects on children whose mothers smoked while they are pregnant.  The study indicates that smoking in pregnancy can lead to lower levels of  HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol thus making them more prone to heart disease later in life. “Our results suggest that maternal smoking ‘imprints’ an unhealthy set of characteristics on children while they are developing in the womb, which may well predispose them to later heart attack and stroke,” said David Celermajer, a professor of cardiology at the University of Sydney. Read here for more information {Click here for a free information packet and special coupon for MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories! } (Source: Cord Blood Ne... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968472 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 20:30:16 +0100 4968472 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911479&cid=t_103062_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fstatins-reduce-heart-disease-risk-but-probably-not-because-they-lower-cholesterol%2F2011.06.08 When cyclists find out that I am a heart doctor, they most frequently ask about cholesterol numbers. “…My cholesterol is this…What do you think?” “…My doctor wants me to take a statin…But I read that these drugs might lower my functional threshold power 2.014 watts/40km.” All this focus on numbers saddens me. Remember, I am a forest guy, not a tree guy. What’s more, as a doctor that revels in the adrenaline rush of ablating rogue circuits with technology that would impress even a twenty-something, I find questions about biochemistry dreary–like eating quinoa. I wish folks would ask me about how to terminate AF with a catheter, or how an (evidenced-based) ICD saved a mom’s life, or perhaps even this: “Do you do heart surgery?” But more often than not people want t... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911479 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 21:00:58 +0100 4911479 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883908&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F929PtH2PZsw%2F Good morning, everyone, and welcome back. We hope your weekend was relaxing and refreshing. Now, of course, the time has come to resume the routine of meetings and deadlines. And yes, we are coping by brewing the mandatory cup of stimulation - our flavor today is Mocha Nut Fudge - and we invite you to join us. Meanwhile, here are some tidbits to help you get in the groover. Hope your day goes well and see you soon… Five Lessons From The Niaspan Study (Forbes) GlaxoSmithKline Is Downgraded By Goldman Sachs (Associated Press) More Children Dying After Vaccination In India (India Times) JB Chem & Pharma To Hire 1,500 Medical Reps (The Economic Times) Sanofi Diabetes Drug Cuts Blood Sugar & Weight In Study (Reuters) No Workers, No Products: A Bleak Future For Renovo (Pharma Tim... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883908 Tue, 31 May 2011 12:03:14 +0100 4883908 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872477&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FgXmYGKYgYhk%2F A study run by the National Institutes of Health was ended 18 months early after finding that adding Niaspan to a statin in people with heart disease did not reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes. Moreover, Niaspan may have boosted the risk of ischemic events, raising questions about the benefit of raising HDL, or so-called good cholesterol, to fight heart disease. The 3,414-person study, which added the Abbott Laboratories pill to Merck’s Zocor, found the combination was linked to stroke in 1.6 percent of patients, compared with 0.7 percent among those given a placebo. The combo failed to reduce heart attacks, heart-related hospitalizations and the need for procedures to reduce chest pain and restore strong blood flow to the heart. “The... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872477 Thu, 26 May 2011 16:07:59 +0100 4872477 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4848154&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FkTurjNnKuyc%2F And so another working week will soon draw to a close. This is, of course, our signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our modest agenda includes yardwork, hanging with assorted short people and another installment in the ‘Let’s-see-them-before-they-die‘ concert series. And you? Anything special in the pipeline? How about curling up with a good e-book? Or a dinner with a favorite someone? Or maybe just a walk in the park? Whatever you do, have a great time and be safe. See you soon… FDA Approves J&J HIV Med For Combo Use (Reuters) EU OKs Bloodthinner From Pfizer And Bristol (Associated Press) EMA Approves Glaxo And Human Genome’s Benlysta For Lupus (Reuters) Pfizer Truck Robbed On Way To CVS (Securing Pharma) AstraZeneca To Eliminate 135 Jobs In Massachus... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4848154 Fri, 20 May 2011 11:39:57 +0100 4848154 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4829300&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FjslS28kfTmI%2F Will Abbott Laboratories lose what was to have been a big money maker? The answer should be known on Thursday, when an FDA advisory committee meets to decide the fate of Trilipix, a so-called fenofibrate pill that was approved in 2008 for lowering cholesterol but, more recently, was linked to a higher rate of heart problems among women who combined the drug with a statin. However, the clinical significance of the finding, which was disclosed in a study known as ACCORD, is not entirely certain, which is why the FDA panel is meeting. However, one question to be addressed is whether the FDA should withdraw approval for using the med in conjunction with a statin or, instead, revise the labeling and possibly include study results. Another option is to require another study (see this). The ACCOR... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4829300 Tue, 17 May 2011 12:51:04 +0100 4829300 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4758754&cid=t_103062_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhen-husbands-gain-weight-and-physicians-wimp-out%2F2011.04.27 A friend of mine is in great physical shape but her husband (we’ll call him “Mr. B”)  has gained 40 pounds since they were married five years ago. He also has familial hypercholesterolemia, and several of his relatives have had heart attacks at young ages. Mrs. B is distraught – she is worried about her husband’s health, and has tried to gently nudge him towards healthier eating habits and regular exercise (as well as taking a statin for his cholesterol). Unfortunately, the nudges were received as nagging, and a wedge has formed between them in their relationship. Last week my friend planned a trip to a primary care physician in the hopes that he would educate Mr. B about the dangers of being overweight and not treating his high cholesterol. “Surely Mr.... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4758754 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:00:19 +0100 4758754 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753973&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F6I6iFNkZiNw%2F Hello, everyone. Another shiny day is unfolding on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where we have successfully begun hustling the short people off to the local school house. As for us, we have a busy day planned since we will host a webinar later about pharma ad agencies and procurement issues (look here). Meanwhile, here are some tidbits to get you started. Hope today is a productive one and see you soon… Merck Hep C Drug Boosted Cure Rates In Trials: FDA (Bloomberg News) Abbott Trilipix & Statin Combo Can Cause Heart Problems: FDA (Reuters) Painkillers Make Antidepressants Less Effective: Study (The Globe & Mail) Cardinal Health Pays $8M To Settle Kickback Claims (Kansas City Business Journal) Mitsui Buys CMO Operations In China (Outsourcing Pharma) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753973 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:03:01 +0100 4753973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753696&cid=t_103062_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fstatin-use-is-increasing-dramatically-are-americans-healthier-for-it%2F2011.04.25 Baseball fans have the Baseball Prospectus annual. Political junkies can get their fix from Nate Silver’s 538 blog. For those of us with geeky interest in health and medicine statistics, graphs, and charts, the Health, United States, 2010 report from the National Center for Health Statistics is that kind of treat. The 41 charts and graphs and 148 trend tables in the 2010 report (it’s dated 2010 but was released earlier this year) could keep me happily occupied for hours. One graph that really caught my eye shows the percentage of Americans that take a statin. Statins are prescribed mainly to lower “bad” LDL cholesterol, but they may have other benefits, too. The statins include atorvastatin (sold as Lipitor), rosuvastatin (sold as Crestor), and simvastatin (sold as Zocor but also a... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753696 Mon, 25 Apr 2011 18:00:48 +0100 4753696 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4670216&cid=t_103062_117_f&fid=37824&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorkalitenko.com%2Fblog%2Fheart-attack-prevention-fish-oil%2F Your heart is the most important organ of the body because it supplies oxygen and other nutrients to the rest of our .  Without the heart working – life is impossible.  Therefore it’s so important to keep your heart healthy. However this is not so easy, because coronary artery disease, caused by heart blood vessels clogging, is the number one killer in the US.  Why? Because it causes heart attacks as well as heart failure and sudden cardiac death. When statins were invented including blockbuster Lipitor, some scientists claimed, that by the year 2000 heart attacks would disappear. But it didn’t happen. Why not? There are 2 main reasons why drugs did not work as well as we thought: 1.  Cholesterol and triglycerides  are not the only risk factors for coronary artery disease. T... Doctor Kalitenko antiaging blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4670216 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 19:53:31 +0100 4670216 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4622437&cid=t_103062_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FxiPvT5ML7zw%2F photo: Thinkstock Last week we began to post about the physical effects of natural disasters like the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan — particularly when it comes to the very troubling by-product of nuclear radiation exposure from reactor explosions. (And we’ll continue to delve deeper into these physical after-effects, because none of us is immune to these types of natural disasters or subsequent manmade ones.) But today we’re focusing on the less visible but equally important psychological effects that this kind of catastrophic event has on a person’s mind, spirit, emotions, and soul. I don’t happen to live in Japan, but it seems to me that the biggest fear right now is about the unknown factors related to radiation exposure — that is, the emoti... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4622437 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 22:02:37 +0100 4622437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4472951&cid=t_103062_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-still-incredible-edible-egg%2F2011.02.12 Enriched chicken feed may have resulted in eggs having less cholesterol and more Vitamin D than previously measured, reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). A large egg today has about 185 milligrams of cholesterol, down 14 percent from 215 milligrams in 2002, according to new research from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, reports USA Today. Also, an egg today has 41 international units (IUs) of Vitamin D, up 64 percent from 25 IUs measured in 2002. (That’s still only about 7 percent of the 600 IUs recommended per day.) The agency regularly does nutrient checks on popular foods, this time analyzing eggs taken from store shelves in 12 locations around the country. The American Egg Board said in a press release that hen feed is made up mostly of corn, soyb... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4472951 Sat, 12 Feb 2011 20:00:00 +0100 4472951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470410&cid=t_103062_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-still-incredible-edible-egg%2F2011.02.12 Enriched chicken feed may have resulted in eggs having less cholesterol and more Vitamin D than previously measured, reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). A large egg today has about 185 milligrams of cholesterol, down 14 percent from 215 milligrams in 2002, according to new research from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, reports USA Today. Also, an egg today has 41 international units (IUs) of Vitamin D, up 64 percent from 25 IUs measured in 2002. (That’s still only about 7 percent of the 600 IUs recommended per day.) The agency regularly does nutrient checks on popular foods, this time analyzing eggs taken from store shelves in 12 locations around the country. The American Egg Board said in a press release that hen feed is made up mostly of corn, soyb... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470410 Sat, 12 Feb 2011 20:00:00 +0100 4470410 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419280&cid=t_103062_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sarasotaneurology.com%2Fmedia%2FSarasota-Neurology-Podcast-Stroke-Prevention-201102 In this episode of the Sarasota Neurology Podcast, Dr. Kassicieh, a recognized expert in stroke prevention, provides an overview of  current techniques for preventing and managing risk of stroke. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. This combined with heart attacks and heart disease result in over 2 million deaths a year. The common underlying cause is vascular disease or hardening of the arteries. Heart attack and stroke can be prevented with simple life style changes and medications. Treatment of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, aspirin and stop smoking will significantly lower risk of suffering from these devastating conditions. Listen to this report to find out how you can reduce your risk of suffering from a stroke, heart attack or other cardiovascu... Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419280 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:53:40 +0100 4419280 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399821&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FpNBNg2yf5XM%2F Yet another big drugmaker is contracting its workforce. This time, Abbott Laboratories is cutting about 1,900 positions - or 6 percent of its US workforce - following a series of pipeline setbacks and what the drugmaker called a “challenging regulatory environment,” a reference to its inability to win FDA approval for various meds. The move is expected to save $200 million over the next few years (see statement). Last week, for instance, Abbott disclosed plans to delay seeking FDA approval for a psoriasis med after receiving word from agency staffers about safety concerns. There was also a disappointment last month when the FDA issued a Complete Response Letter for the Certriad cholesterol pill, which would have combined its own TriLipix with AstraZeneca’s Crestor. Develo... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399821 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:25:53 +0100 4399821 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4245414&cid=t_103062_117_f&fid=38856&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timemastermd.com%2F%3Fp%3D1586 Claudia Schiffer The bodacious German supermodel eats salad and steamed vegetables for dinner and eats only fruits before the afternoon. While on locations, she prefers to eat black grapes and drinks tomato juice and herbal tea.  Maybe the tomatoes are partially responsible for her amazing looks? Lycopene, which is what makes tomatoes red, is nature’s most powerful antioxidant; studies have shown that increased lycopene consumption can lead to decreased risks of heart disease as well as certain types of cancers, including breast, prostate, and colorectal and may also lower the amount of LDL or “bad” cholesterol.  No word on whether it makes your hair blond, curly, and sexy. Tomato juice can, however,  significantly increase the presence of cell-protecting antioxidants that help ... Timemaster MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4245414 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 05:13:12 +0100 4245414 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4175973&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FcfGJ41IhIq0%2F One of the most closely watched drug development stories just got a little more interesting. A study of 1,623 people with coronary heart disease or an equivalent risk found that a new pill from Merck - which is called anacetrapib - lowered LDL, which is bad choleserol, while also raising HDL, so-called good cholesterol, to impressive levels. At 24 weeks, the pill decreased LDL by 40 percent and increased HDL by 138 percent in patients already treated with a statin. And there were no significant differences from placebo in the primary safety measures studied, such as blood pressure. The pre-specified adjudicated cardiovascular endpoints were defined as cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, unstable angina or stroke, occurred in 16 patients treated with anacetrapib, or 2 percent, comp... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4175973 Wed, 17 Nov 2010 14:40:30 +0100 4175973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4152272&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FyEol_ZBMUqs%2F Good morning, folks. How are you today? We are just fine, thank you. After all, the sun is shining here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where the official mascots are chasing squirrels and two cups of stimulation are brewing. What will today bring? Hmm… One never knows, but to help you prepare, we have gathered a few interesting tidbits of information. So dig in. And we hope your day goes well… PhRMA CEO John Castellani On Elections And Health Care Reform (Politico) Merck Results For Cholesterol Pill Are Due Next Week (Bloomberg News) FDA Commish Defends Handling Of Heparin Crisis (Reuters) Glaxo Sees More Industry Consolidation (The Business Standard) Pharma Needs Lessons On Winning Trust (MedAd News) Court Is Urged To Narrow Patent-Misconduct Standard (Bloomberg News) FDA ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4152272 Wed, 10 Nov 2010 12:39:39 +0100 4152272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4139304&cid=t_103062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FoAvfFMentt0%2F photo: Thinkstock Think heart attacks are reserved for 80-year-old men who smoke, drink, and eat red meat daily? Nope. Seemingly healthy young women like us are at risk for heart disease as well. In a recent article, Betty Confidential even talks about a 29-year-old woman who suffered a heart attack. The American Heart Association estimates that 365,000 women will have a heart attack this year. And there’s even worse news — heart attacks for women under 50 are twice as likely to be fatal as they are for men under 50. But, before you think all hope is lost, there are some things you can do to prevent heart disease. First of all, eating healthy and regular exercise are valuable and necessary steps to having a healthy cardiovascular system. Stress can also increase likelihood of a ca... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4139304 Fri, 05 Nov 2010 19:26:17 +0100 4139304 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4106095&cid=t_103062_167_f&fid=38271&url=http%3A%2F%2Frebeccascritchfield.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F10%2F26%2Ffill-up-on-fiber-and-feel-fuller-for-longer%2F If you have found yourself eating what feels like a good amount of food, but struggle with staying “full,” there could be a chance you aren’t getting enough fiber. Fiber not only functions as a way to fill you up and make you feel fuller for longer, but it also has many amazing health benefits including: improving gastrointestinal health and function improving glucose tolerance and insulin response decreasing LDL and cardiovascular disease risk factors reducing the risk of some cancers. Two Types of Fiber Soluble and insoluble fiber are two types of fiber that you can consume, each with different functions in the body. Insoluble fiber helps move bulk through the intestines and promotes better digestive health. It is also linked to reducing the risk of colon cancer. You ... Balanced Health and Nutrition Rebecca Scritchfield's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4106095 Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:53:23 +0100 4106095 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4031241&cid=t_103062_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-simple-truth-about-cholesterol%2F2010.10.05 The New York Times recently ran a piece that wondered if doctors were treating patients with cholesterol-lowering medication unnecessarily because a web-based calculator over estimated a person’s risk. The program was proudly sponsored by the pharmaceutical roundtable and was available at the American Heart Association. The implication was obvious. Simple tool determines an individual’s risk for heart attack or death from heart attack. It over estimates risk. Patients treated unnecessarily. To be also clear, the program did underestimate risk as well. Unfortunately, the article missed an important point. While the simplified calculator may not be as accurate as the more complex algorithm used by the National Cholesterol Education Program, the truth is doctors are likely to... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4031241 Tue, 05 Oct 2010 12:00:00 +0100 4031241 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4025690&cid=t_103062_117_f&fid=38856&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timemastermd.com%2F%3Fp%3D1187 Please Shay it isn’t so Shay-la Hershey – Size 38KKK!  (World’s Largest Breasts Record) No need to hit the GYM – just head to the beach instead! Just 10 minutes of staring at the charms of a well-endowed female is equivalent to a 30-minute aerobics work-out,” said author Dr. Karen Weatherby, a gerontologist. So, since Shayla’s chest is over 7 sizes larger than a D cup,  you can get get a 3 1/2 workout by looking at her bust for just ten minutes! Boob oglers have a lower blood pressure, slower resting pulse rates and decreased risk of coronary artery disease.  Of course, right after seeing large breasts there usually is a temporary increase in blood pressure and heart rate, but then it settles down with time.  Playboy King, Hugh Hefner may therefore ... Timemaster MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4025690 Sat, 02 Oct 2010 05:29:04 +0100 4025690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013549&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FkX2b8wnMUrA%2F Two years ago, a study called JUPITER looked at AstraZeneca’s Crestor cholesterol pill and measured levels of a protein called CRP that can indicate arteries are inflamed and point toward heart disease. But the results prompted debate over the extent to which CRP should be used as a guidepost for treating cholsterol and prescribing Crestor and other statins to people with low cholesterol (see here). In June, a “critical reappraisal” appeared in The Archives of Internal Medicine calling the trial “flawed,” because there were various methodological problems and a “strong commercial interest” may have resulted in biased outcomes. Nine of 14 authors had ties to AstraZeneca and the principal investigator, Paul Ridker of Brigham and Women’s Hospital (pictured), is a co-holder of ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013549 Tue, 28 Sep 2010 15:15:12 +0100 4013549 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965701&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FxdaK6hHo5xs%2F Several years ago, an alternate method for measuring coronary risk was adopted by the National Cholesterol Education Program’s adult treatment panel as an outgrowth of the famous Framingham Heart Study. The newer method, which was referred to as a point-based approach, attempted to make it easier to classify patients into risk groups in order to pursue the appropriate treatment. However, a new study, which is published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, compares the two approaches and finds the point-based system “misclassifies millions of Americans” and places them in higher risk groups for which different treatments are recommended. In other words, the implication is that a higher risk classification may prompt greater use of such treatments as cholesterol med... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965701 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:54:39 +0100 3965701 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3942749&cid=t_103062_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2F198795%2F Kids’ Cholesterol: A new study suggests that chemicals in non-stick bakeware and microwave popcorn might raise cholesterol levels in children. (via AFP) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3942749 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:50:37 +0100 3942749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3865457&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FGhJ9v0Km1gw%2F People have joked about this for awhile - go to your local McDonald’s or ice cream shop and order a Lipitor with a burger or milkshake. Supposedly, you would get the best of both worlds. Now, though, a group of researchers is actively arguing that such an approach to reducing cholesterol should be pursued. In an editorial in the American Journal of Cardiology, they maintain fast-food outlets could provide statins free of charge, so that customers can neutralize the dangers of fatty foods. They reached this conclusion by calculating that the reduction in cardiovascular risk offered by a statin is enough to offset the increase in heart attack risk from eating a cheeseburger and a milkshake. “It’s ironic that people are free to take as many unhealthy condiments in fast food... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3865457 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:47:47 +0100 3865457 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3813207&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FFz0WG-kXkNc%2F Welcome back, everyone. We hope your weekend was relaxing and you had time to do something special. Now, though, the routine returns and this means gearing up for those meetings and deadlines. Please join us then as we brew the mandatory cup of stimulation to get started. And of course, there is the news of the world to rummage through. Good luck, today, and stay in touch… Watson May Bid For Sigma Pharmaceuticals (The Age) A Growing Use Of Direct To Pharmacy Distribution (PharmTech) Pills Under Way To Treat Non-Food Allergies (Los Angeles Times) Sanofi May Have To Raise Price For Genzyme (Bloomberg News) Isis Pharma To Release Data On Cholsterol Drug Trials (Reuters) Novo, Lilly And Novartis May Bid For Ascendis (Bloomberg News) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3813207 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 11:36:05 +0100 3813207 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3784261&cid=t_103062_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcardiologist-job-security%2F2010.07.23 All it takes to assure you’ll keep your local cardiologist employed is 19 strips of bacon and an egg and you’ve got yourself one heck of a solid bacon burger: Having read about the difficulties people making such burgers have had keeping them together, I decided to add one large egg to the food processor along with the 19 slices of bacon. I ground the bacon and the egg together, then, using my hands, pulled the mixture out and used a hamburger press to make a burger. It is possible that my hands have been greasier at some point in my life, but if so I have (fortunately) forgotten it. I was not quite prepared for the raw burger to look like pure fat, and I must admit that it didn’t look very appealing. But it was for science, so I soldiered on! I put the burger on the rack-Pyr... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3784261 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100 3784261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3780586&cid=t_103062_167_f&fid=38271&url=http%3A%2F%2Frebeccascritchfield.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F23%2Fdash-your-way-to-a-healthier-heart%2F This article is part of a series on simple things everyone can do to keep their heart healthy and strong. (Source: Balanced Health and Nutrition Rebecca Scritchfield's Blog) Balanced Health and Nutrition Rebecca Scritchfield's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3780586 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:10:57 +0100 3780586 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3776634&cid=t_103062_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F07%2F22%2Flow-cholesterol-levels-associated-with-depression-and-other-mental-health-issues%2F I know that some doctors and scientists would have us believe that, where cholesterol is concerned, ‘lower is better’, but I have real difficulty mustering any enthusiasm for this stance. And one major reason for this is the fact that low levels of cholesterol are associated with enhanced risk of death, perhaps most notably from [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3776634 Thu, 22 Jul 2010 08:46:16 +0100 3776634 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3753853&cid=t_103062_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2FrzZFIXGQUSU%2F This article is contributed by Susan White, who regularly writes on the subject of online radiology technician schools. She invites your questions, comments at her email address: susan.white33@gmail.com) addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fmedicineandman.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F07%2F14%2Fguest-post-fighting-fat-with-drugs-%25e2%2580%2593-is-it-worth-it%2F'; addthis_title = 'Guest+Post%3A+Fighting+Fat+with+Drugs+%E2%80%93+Is+it+Worth+It%3F'; addthis_pub = ''; (Source: Medicine and Man) Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3753853 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:36:41 +0100 3753853 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3750118&cid=t_103062_109_f&fid=38950&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shockmd.com%2F2010%2F07%2F14%2Fthe-effect-of-chocolate-on-cholesterol-level%2F As you probably may well know, your lipid profile is of importance for cardiovascular disease. Especially a high cholesterol level is considered to be a risk factor for coronary artery disease. The efficacy of cocoa in reducing blood pressure and other positive effects on cardiovascular risk factors have been discussed on this blog for some time now. Also a lot of hypothesis for the working of cocoa and how these positive effect of cocoa come about are frequently posted (Yes I like dark chocolate). Now wouldn’t it be fun if chocolate also reduces the blood cholesterol level. A recent systematic review of 8 trials involving 215 participants revealed that only those with cardiovascular risk factors (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure) who consumed low doses of chocolate there was a cho... Dr Shock MD PhD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3750118 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:23:09 +0100 3750118 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3747015&cid=t_103062_167_f&fid=38271&url=http%3A%2F%2Frebeccascritchfield.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F13%2F1511%2F It’s a time to bring awareness to heart disease and stroke, the number one killer in the United States, so you and people you love don’t become a statistic. Be honest. Do you know your numbers? Your cholesterol numbers. You should have your cholesterol measured once a year after age 30, especially if you have a family history of high cholesterol or heart problems. High cholesterol can double the risk for heart disease. It’s entirely possible that your body will produce too much cholesterol, even if you take steps to lower it. However, many people are successful at lowering their cholesterol with some simple changes. There are three ways you can make your cholesterol levels better. 1. Diet: Eat more vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Use low- or non-fat dairy products. Substitute o... Balanced Health and Nutrition Rebecca Scritchfield's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3747015 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 03:31:07 +0100 3747015 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3746661&cid=t_103062_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F07%2Fpediatrician-dr-william-neal-argues-cholesterol-screening-children%2F Dr. William Neal has published a study saying that 1% of the fifth-graders he tested in West Virginia had high cholesterol and would benefit from cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. Dr. Michael L. LeFevere disagrees. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3746661 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 03:30:00 +0100 3746661 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3726806&cid=t_103062_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F07%2F05%2Fare-wholegrains-good-for-the-heart%2F The conventional nutritional approach for ‘heart health’ is a low-fat (specifically, low saturated fat), high-carbohydrate diet. For many reasons, this is not the sort of diet I would generally recommend to ward off heart disease. For more about this, click here. One particular form of carbohydrate that has been vigorously promoted for its heart-healthy properties are [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3726806 Mon, 05 Jul 2010 21:43:38 +0100 3726806 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3721719&cid=t_103062_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F02%2Ftackling-inequalities-in-life-expectancy-in-areas-with-the-worst-health-and-deprivation%2F Title: Tackling inequalities in life expectancy in areas with the worst health and deprivation (Executive Summary) Skinny: National Audit Office report that identifies the best, cost-effective interventions in Tackling inequalities in life expectancy in areas with the worst health and deprivation. The report suggests these be employed on a larger scale in order to have a greater impact and improve value for money. The Department of Health should target its efforts on the most deprived areas of the country and develop costed proposals to maintain or increase investment in preventative interventions to tackle the conditions which lead to health inequalities. Three cost effective interventions are identified increase the prescribing of drugs to control blood pressure increase the prescribing... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3721719 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 10:33:29 +0100 3721719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3714470&cid=t_103062_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F06%2F30%2Fdo-statins-save-lives-in-essentially-healthy-people-no%2F Statins are drugs that reduce cholesterol. They also reduce risk of heart disease and stroke. That does not mean, though, that they do they via their cholesterol-reducing effect. There are several lines of evidence which actually suggest otherwise. For example, statins can have clinical benefit before they reduce cholesterol levels. They also have been purported [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3714470 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:40:03 +0100 3714470 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3714444&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FJSU5gTPTZaE%2F Earlier this week, the Archives of Internal Medicine published a few articles and editorials about statins, although one, in particular, generated some heat - a review of the controversial Jupiter study from 2008. The study, which focused on AstraZeneca’s Crestor cholesterol pill, measured levels of a protein called CRP that can indicate arteries are inflamed and point toward heart disease. The results prompted debate over the extent to which CRP should be used as a guideline for treating cholsterol and the wisdom in prescribing Crestor and other statins to people with low cholesterol. This week’s revisitation (see here) stirred anew the controversy, but also focused on allegations of poor methodology, bias and conflicts of interest (see here). However, as was noted yesterday, two ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3714444 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:42:30 +0100 3714444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3710792&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FHnUEoke6eyQ%2F When the Jupiter study was released in November 2008, the results caused a hoopla. The study looked at AstraZeneca’s Crestor cholesterol pill and measured levels of a protein called CRP that can indicate arteries are inflamed and point toward heart disease. But the results prompted debate over the extent to which CRP should be used as a guidepost for treating cholsterol and the wisdom in prescribing Crestor and other statins to people with low cholesterol (background). Now, a “critical reappraisal” has appeared in The Archives of Internal Medicine that calls the trial “flawed,” because there were all sorts of methodological problems and that a “strong commercial interest” may have resulted in biased outcomes. Why? Nine of 14 Jupiter authors have fi... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3710792 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:00:24 +0100 3710792 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3683869&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FWwG08X6tEdA%2F Over the past few months, Lilly ceo John Lechleiter has made speeches in which he criticized various government policies for hindering research and development efforts (see this). And central to his theme has been the importance of innovation. “Innovation is not a panacea for the challenges facing our health care systems, but it is hard to see any way out of the current crisis – and I don’t think that’s too strong a word – without innovation,” he told the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany which, earlier this year, was preparing to cut brand-name drug prices (look here). Today, however, the drugmaker has begun marketing yet another statin for controlling cholesterol, which it calls Livalo. This is a big market, of course, with statins ringing up some $13 b... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3683869 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:23:08 +0100 3683869 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3652718&cid=t_103062_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F06%2F11%2Fmore-evidence-comes-in-that-saturated-fat-does-not-cause-heart-disease%2F Back in April I wrote about my ‘love-hate relationship’ with dairy products. The love part of my relationship relates to the fact that many dairy products are rich in protein and low in carbohydrate, coupled with the fact that I actually like the taste of things like cream, yoghurt and cheese. The hate part of [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3652718 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 04:57:26 +0100 3652718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3635701&cid=t_103062_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F06%2F07%2Fheart-2010-vol-96-no-6%2F Heart 2010 (Vol. 96 No. 6) Contents page Fade Fave: Lipid re-screening: what is the best measure and interval? Fade Skinny: Aims to estimate the long-term true change variation (‘signal’) and short-term within-person variation (‘noise’) of the different lipid measures and evaluate the best measure and the optimal interval for lipid re-screening. Finds that the signal-to-noise ratios of standard single lipid measures (TC, LDL and HDL) are weak over 3 years and decisions based on these measures are potentially misleading. The ratios, TC/HDL and LDL/HDL, seem to be better measures for monitoring assessments. The lipid re-screening interval should be >3 years for those not taking cholesterol-lowering drugs. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Filed under: Athen... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3635701 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:04:50 +0100 3635701 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629904&cid=t_103062_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F06%2F03%2Fstudy-linking-regular-tooth-brushing-with-reduced-risk-of-heart-disease-should-remind-us-of-why-cholesterol-is-unlikely-to-be-the-killer-its-made-out-to-be%2F A study published last week in the British Medical Journal has linked irregular toothbrushing with an increased risk of heart disease: individuals who rarely or never brushed their teeth were found to be at a 70 per cent increased risk of ‘cardiovascular events’ (e.g. heart attacks and strokes) compared to regular brushers [1]. Why? Well, [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629904 Thu, 03 Jun 2010 22:03:43 +0100 3629904 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3588846&cid=t_103062_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fbest-of-blisstree-our-10-favorite-things-from-the-week%2F If you’ve skimped on your Blisstree reading this week, here’s our top ten list (in no particular order): Nutrition: 26 Ways to Lower Your Bad Cholesterol from Lauren Slayton of NYC’s Foodtrainers Babycakes Gluten-Free, Vegan Brownie Recipe (No, really, it’s good!) Bikini Babes: Bikini Hair Removal 101 To Drink: Eco-Friendly Diet Coke from Sodastream Keep the Weight Off: Fitness Model Jamie Eason’s Favorite App Female Entrepreneurs: Exclusive Q&A with Rachel Weeks of School House Dating Advice: Burn Your Relationship Books (Bonus: if you comment on this, you could win a copy of Giulia Melucci’s memoir, “I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti”) Photo Gallery: Blisstree’s Trip To L.A. with Bertolli and Rocco DiSpirito (with photos of one ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3588846 Sat, 22 May 2010 13:36:01 +0100 3588846 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3567891&cid=t_103062_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-to-lower-your-cholesterol%2F2010.05.15 Your doctor has just informed you that you have “hyperlipidemia” – or high cholesterol. She’s mentioning lipid-lowering drugs (statins), but you said you want to try some things on your own first. She agrees and will recheck your blood levels in three months. What are you going to do? The advice is all over the map and your Google searches come up with various supplements and diets that are confusing and overwhelming. Here are some specific recommendations, based on evidence, that can help you lower your cholesterol. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at EverythingHealth* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3567891 Sat, 15 May 2010 18:00:00 +0100 3567891 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3533790&cid=t_103062_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2010%2F05%2F04%2Fare-eggs-good-for-you%2F Filed under: DietEggs often get a bad rap because they are a major source of dietary cholesterol. Yet, these days, the overarching opinion is that limiting cholesterol is not necessary if you eat a diet low in saturated fat and free of trans-fats, and you don't have diabetes. In the Physicians' Health Study, men with diabetes had an increased chance risk of dying or having a heart attack or stroke if they consumed eggs. The study, though flawed, raises questions. According to dietitians, diabetics should eat no more than two egg yolks per week. Eggs provide a low-cost, nutrient-rich source of complete protein that many people do not get elsewhere, especially those who are on modified eating plans. Check out more information on AOL Health. Permalink | Email this | Link... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3533790 Mon, 03 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3533790 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3524111&cid=t_103062_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2F4-super-healthy-foods%2F2010.05.02 Raise your hand if you want to eat healthy. Healthy eating isn’t just good for cinching your waistline — it’s great for overall health. From glowing skin, to heart health, to maintaining healthy teeth and bones; eating foods packed with certain nutrients can also protect your immune system and fight infections.  It can boost your libido and decrease that lousy (LDL) cholesterol and boost your good (HDL) cholesterol. Healthy eating shouldn’t be a struggle. It’s easy to get sucked into the marketing trap when you’re food shopping and you encounter all those in-store specials. Sometimes, those specials are just bad for your health. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Health in 30* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3524111 Sun, 02 May 2010 12:00:50 +0100 3524111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3524113&cid=t_103062_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Famerican-obesity-and-sugar-sweetened-beverages%2F2010.05.01 We are a nation stricken with an epidemic of obesity, which contributes to the incidence of diabetes and heart disease. Each of these has been linked to consumption of sugar intake, and in particular, sugar-sweetened beverages. There’s nothing evil about sugar — it’s just that too much of it in certain forms is bad for you. For the purpose of definition, sugar-sweetened beverages contain added, naturally-derived caloric sweeteners such as sucrose (table sugar), high-fructose corn syrup, or fruit juice concentrates. (more…) This post, American Obesity And Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, was originally published on Healthine.com by Paul S Auerbach M.D., M.S.. (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3524113 Sat, 01 May 2010 22:00:00 +0100 3524113 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3378508&cid=t_103062_99_f&fid=35344&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzackarysholemberger.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F03%2Fstatins-heart-disease-and-risk.html What gives? How can someone with high blood cholesterol levels for 30+ years end up with clean arteries, if indeed there is any causation between blood cholesterol levels and plaque accumulation. ... Perhaps actual blood cholesterol levels have no cause of heart disease on their own a-priori. And, if any of these crazy hypotheses are true, then how can a health system prescribe drugs like statins so casually and routinely to anyone with cholesterol over 230? This is particularly true, when the long term side effects of such drugs must still be unknown.Lots of questions -- some scientific, some health-plan political... But mainly I am looking for just straight talk on this whole cholesterol/heart disease issue.You ask a lot of good questions. Let me paraphrase them for ease of presentation.... Zackary Sholem Berger blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3378508 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:34:00 +0100 3378508 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3359216&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FzEiv7-Y0wkk%2F There are gray skies hovering over the Pharmalot corporate campus this morning, but our spirits are sunny. And why not? If nothing else, the weekend is just around the corner. Yes, there are deadlines and meetings between now and then, but still, we look ahead to spending time with the short people and catching up on our to-do list. What will you do? While you ponder, here are a few items to help you along. Whatever your choice, have a nice weekend… Birth Control Pills May Help Women Live Longer (Bloomberg News) Nigerian Start-Up Fights Counterfeit Drugs (The Wall Street Journal) Arena Will Launch Diet Drug With Or Without A Partner (Reuters) Roche’s Avastin Fails Prostate Cancer Study Goal (Bloomberg News) Merck’s Vytorin Effectiveness Study To Continue (Associated Press... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3359216 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:35:59 +0100 3359216 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3354581&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fpr1PbhfpZvI%2F Hello, everyone. Nice to see you again. Another day beckons and we will begin ours by attempting to hustle one of the short people off to the schoolhouse. Wish us luck. To prepare, we are brewing the mandatory cup of stimulation. Grab one yourself, or a healthy bottle of water if you prefer, and get ready for the day. Here are a few items to help you along. Stay in touch… AstraZeneca To Sell Generics Made By India’s Torrent (Bloomberg News) J&J Seeks Rehearing In Europe On Skin Drug (MarketWatch) Doctors Fail To Cut Cholesterol Enough: Study (Reuters) Merck Drug Beats Head Lice In Study (Bloomberg News) Beijing To Build Asia’s Biggest Pharma Base (Alibaba.com) Massachusetts Joins J&J Antipsychotic Lawsuit (Boston Globe) Chief Justice Recuses In Wyeth Vaccine Cas... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3354581 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:17:55 +0100 3354581 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262890&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Foo9fTuPnPwk%2F A former Pfizer exec has filed a whistleblower lawsuit that accuses the drugmaker of illegally scheming to boost Lipitor sales by misrepresenting product labeling and federal cholesterol guidelines; using misleading educational programs for doctors, and unlawful sampling kickback schemes, among other things, that resulted in off-label marketing that allegedly defrauded Medicaid and Medicare (this is the lawsuit). Jesse Polansky, who was director of outcomes management from April 2001 until July 2003, claims “thousands of physicians have prescribed Lipitor to millions of patients for whom drug therapy is not recommended, and for whom the medication could be dangerous. Millions of those improper prescriptions were ultimately paid for by various government healthcare plans,” accor... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262890 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:02:38 +0100 3262890 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3267202&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Foo9fTuPnPwk%2F A former Pfizer exec has filed a whistleblower lawsuit that accuses the drugmaker of illegally scheming to boost Lipitor sales by misrepresenting product labeling and federal cholesterol guidelines; using misleading educational programs for doctors, and unlawful sampling kickback schemes, among other things, that resulted in off-label marketing that allegedly defrauded Medicaid and Medicare (this is the lawsuit). Jesse Polansky, who was director of outcomes management from April 2001 until July 2003, claims “thousands of physicians have prescribed Lipitor to millions of patients for whom drug therapy is not recommended, and for whom the medication could be dangerous. Millions of those improper prescriptions were ultimately paid for by various government healthcare plans,” accor... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3267202 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:40:01 +0100 3267202 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262696&cid=t_103062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FWJD99zQCRy4%2F There have been studies, off and on, about possible connections between migraines and strokes, but newest research is showing that there is also a connection between migraines and heart attacks. It’s important to understand that migraines are not simply very bad headaches. Migraines are a condition on their own and are not restricted to pain in the head. They can cause, among other things: Visual disturbances Sensitivity to light, sound, touch Nausea Vomiting Balance problems And now, researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University say that people with migraines have twice the risk of having a heart attack than people who don’t have migraines. They also found: that migraine sufferers also face increased risk for stroke and were more likely to have k... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262696 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:11:57 +0100 3262696 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3212636&cid=t_103062_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F01%2F27%2Farticle-reminds-us-of-the-importance-of-focusing-on-drug-effects-on-health-not-cholesterol%2F In this study, combining a stating with ezetimibe (which reduces cholesterol absorption from the gut) produced less favourable outcomes than a statin coupled with niacin (vitamin B3) in terms of arterial health. [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3212636 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:09:51 +0100 3212636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3200664&cid=t_103062_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FPkQG6ItLcls%2F Romantic sex is the healthiest Lose weight. Reduce stress. Lower your cholesterol level. Improve your circulation. Live longer. Stay younger. Sounds like an ad for a new wonder drug right? In fact it’s a partial list of the benefits of humanity’s oldest and most pleasurable pastime – sex. Most of us are aware of the feel-good benefits of sex while we’re engaged in it, but do you also know that there are benefits which carry on after the sweaty bodies have dried and the sweet talk has reverted to sports? For instance: Maintaining Ideal Body Weight Sexual intercourse burns approximately 150 calories per half hour. Here’s how that stacks up against some other activities that may be part of your fitness regime: yoga 114 calories per half hour, dancing – 129,... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3200664 Sat, 23 Jan 2010 07:47:46 +0100 3200664 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3176153&cid=t_103062_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F01%2F15%2Ftwo-major-studies-conclude-that-saturated-fat-does-not-cause-heart-disease%2F One of things I try and do on this blog is right what I see as nutritional wrongs. So, if there’s a common perception that artificial sweeteners are better than sugar for weight loss, but there’s really no evidence for that, then I’m inclined to write about it. If the evidence suggests that margarine is [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3176153 Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:35:10 +0100 3176153 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3120456&cid=t_103062_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F25%2Fvideo-the-12-bipolar-days-of-christmas%2F DISCLAIMER: I am no Barbara Streisand. I’ve never taken a singing lesson in my life. Not one. (Ed. - Really??) The inspiration for this song came two weeks before Thanksgiving when I received a call from my doctor: we had better get together a plan for lowering my cholesterol. Yeah. Sure. Getting to it… right after I fix my pituitary tumor, abnormal aortic valve, bipolar brain, and facial fungus. My high cholesterol is not a new issue. Somewhere around the time David was conceived I found out that my cholesterol scores were higher than my verbal SATs. But for the last six years I didn’t do anything about it because (honest confession coming up here) many of those days I was so depressed that I really wanted to be with God in his mansion upstairs. Dropping dead of a heart... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3120456 Fri, 25 Dec 2009 11:36:19 +0100 3120456 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3082465&cid=t_103062_113_f&fid=38494&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcuretogether.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F12%2F11%2Fhigh-cholesterol-folks-6x-more-likely-to-be-insulin-resistant%2F OK, this is a seriously scary load of fat and sugar. (Photo: VirtualErn)               . It was sundae night at my house. My parents would set out bowls, ice cream, and an obscene number of toppings, from whipped cream and chocolate sauce to marshmallows and sprinkles. We all chowed down, then lolled about in a vague stupor. It didn’t happen that often, but it’s not something I ever want to repeat. My parents are both on medication for high cholesterol, and I just found out from my 23andMe genetic scan that I have an elevated risk of getting diabetes. So I exercise and watch what I eat every day. But I was surprised by today’s CureTogether research finding. I didn’t expect to learn that high cholesterol and insulin resistance (the first step on the way diab... The Collective Well blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3082465 Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:13:28 +0100 3082465 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3067116&cid=t_103062_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F08%2F9-holiday-depression-busters%2F My “9 Holiday Depression Busters” are featured in a Beliefnet gallery. You can get to it by clicking here. It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year–but not if negative emotions take hold of your holidays. So let’s be honest. The holidays are packed with stress, and therefore provoke tons of depression and anxiety. But there is hope. Whether I’m fretting about something as trite as stocking stuffers or as complicated as managing difficult family relationships, I apply a few rules that I’ve learned over the years. These 9 rules help me put the joy back into the festivities–or at least keep me from hurling a mistletoe at Santa and landing myself on the “naughty” list. 1. Expect the Worst Now that’s a cheery thou... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3067116 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:33:46 +0100 3067116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2996050&cid=t_103062_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F11%2F16%2Fmore-bad-news-for-the-makers-and-takers-of-cholesterol-reducing-drug-ezetimibe-zetia%2F Previously, I have written about the drug combination of simvastatin and ezetimibe (sold as Vytorin in the US). Both of these drugs reduce cholesterol, but through different mechanisms. Taken together, these drugs do do a good job of reducing cholesterol levels And we all know that the lower we get the cholesterol levels down the [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2996050 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:18:21 +0100 2996050 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2977568&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FBKf6UvLaxzA%2F The big drugmaker may encounter its third negative study result within two years for Vytorin and Zetia which, along with Zocor, is a component in the expensive cholesterol pill. The latest trial is scheduled to be presented this coming Monday at the American Heart Association meeting, and pits Merck’s drugs against Abbott Labs’ Niaspan, Bloomberg News notes. The results are likely to show that Niaspan unclogged arteries better than Vytorin, according to Leerink Swann analyst Seamus Fernandez and Wells Fargo Advisors analyst Larry Biegelsen, Bloomberg writes. If so, Vytorin and Zetia revenue may be reduced by $800 million yearly, or 20 percent, Fernandez forecasts. Since January, sales have declined $480 million, or 14 percent, to about $3 billion. A win by Niaspan may discourage ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2977568 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:42:12 +0100 2977568 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2954766&cid=t_103062_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2FMt8j8Grc20M%2Fworried-about-alzheimers-five-ways-to.html It's really critical that we find ways to prevent, or at least delay the onset of, cognitive decline. --Neil Buckholtz, U.S. National Institute on Aging's Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI)..... Bob DeMarco Alzheimer's Reading Room Editor Physical Activity -- Exercise Consider exercises that pump oxygen and blood to the brain. These include running, walking, bicycling. There are at least 18 research studies showing that exercise can improve memory in people suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Better yet, start exercising now to improve cognitive function. To read Worried About Alzheimer's? Tip #1 Exercise go here. Control your Weight The heavier a person is, the more likely they are to develop Alzheimer's. Scientist found that the brains of older individuals who wer... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2954766 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:46:25 +0100 2954766 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2944095&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fp3XeceGN3s0%2F That’s what some researchers are suggesting. “Statins may have a role in reducing mortality from influenza, but our findings do not justify broader use of statins without confirming these findings in the setting of randomized controlled trials,” study author Dr. Ann Thomas, from the Emerging Infections Program at the Oregon Department of Human Services Public Health Division in Portland. “Statins may have a benefit, in conjunction with vaccine and antivirals, in reducing morbidity and mortality associated with influenza, likely due to their effect of reducing the body’s inflammatory response to influenza infection,” she tells HealthDay News in advance of her presentation today at the Infectious Diseases Society of America annual meeting in Philadelphia. Her team examined ou... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2944095 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:22:18 +0100 2944095 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912187&cid=t_103062_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.talkaboutrx.org%2Fdocuments%2Fenhancing_prescription_medicine_adherence.pdf As Robin illustrated in her post, poor medication adherence results in poor health outcomes for millions of Americans, and costs billions of dollars in increased medical costs.  When three-quarters of Americans concede they don’t take their prescription medications as directed, we are faced with a public health problem that demands a broad, multi-faceted response. As the nation’s oldest consumer organization, the National Consumers League has long worked to improve medication safety, patient education, and consumer education in the health community.  With planning funds from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), NCL is spearheading a first-of-its-kind national education campaign to raise consumer awareness of the importance of good medication adherence.  As called f... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912187 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:18:55 +0100 2912187 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2857461&cid=t_103062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FliwUHmPfIZ0%2F A three-year study of 170,024 patients has found that two low-cost medications – one for lowering cholesterol and one for lowering blood pressure – taken for two years reduced their risk of having a heart attack or stroke by more than 60% for the following year. The patients were divided into three groups at the start of the study. The high-exposure group was composed of 21,292 patients. They took both medications  (40 milligrams of lovastatin and 20 milligrams of lisinopril) more than half the time throughout the two years. The amount of time they took the medications was determined by a review of pharmacy records. The low-exposure group of 47,268 people took the two medications less than half the time, while 101,464 people did not take the medications and were considered to ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2857461 Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:59:24 +0100 2857461 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2852079&cid=t_103062_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F10%2F01%2Fscientist-claims-margarine-manufacturers-are-misleading-us-on-omega-3-claims-and-thats-not-all%2F BBC Radio 4 this morning had a brief item about margarine. The item focused on the fact that margarine manufacturers can trumpet the presence of ‘heart-healthy’ omega-3 fats on the label. Professor Jack Winkler, Professor of Nutrition Policy at London Metropolitan University made the claim that such labelling is misleading. It seems that margarine manufacturers [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2852079 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:49:36 +0100 2852079 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2832115&cid=t_103062_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D7911 For those who take red yeast rice to lower cholesterol or are thinking of doing so, you might want to read this article in Science-Based Medicine While red yeast rice reduces LDL cholesterol levels and reduces the rate of major coronary events. The Medical Letter consultants concluded that it works, but they don’t recommend it. Why? Read on… from the Malaysian Medical Resources Red Yeast Rice and cholesterol (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2832115 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2832115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2786214&cid=t_103062_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F2V6bqFDotXo%2F I know this sounds like hype, but forget Slim-Fast, Alli and all the other weight-loss strategies you’ve tried before. Just remember one name from now on – FATOSTATIN. I can almost see how a novel discovery can lead into the first weight-loss drug that not only makes you lose weight, but actually stops your body from making fat! Scientists have recently discovered that fatostatin can block the activity of a transcription factor known as SREBP, which regulates what genes are expressed in the pathways to making fat. Blocking SREBP means that there is no synthesis of fat and cholesterol genes at all. Fatostatin was found to lower the activity of 63 genes, including 34 directly associated with fatty acid or cholesterol synthesis. In other words, fatostatin can block the machines in our b... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2786214 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:30:00 +0100 2786214 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2751947&cid=t_103062_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Falchemist-checks-oxy-cholesterol-levels.html The Alchemist this week learns how fluorine chemistry is blooming, how to melt proteins, and how cholesterol is all about the good, the bad, and the oxy. Also this week, a technique borrowed from organic LED fabrication could lead to a new way to manufacture tiny inorganic LEDs for next generation displays, while a conductive flip has been observed with clusters of atoms close to absolute zero. Finally, the American Chemical Society announces this years previously unsung chemical heroes from across the industry. Previously on ChemWeb, we heard rumors of silicon neurons and the coming cyborg age, he discovers that a compound that leads to ovine Cyclops has now been synthesized for cancer drug research, and how chicken poop down on the shooting range could help solve the problem of lead in t... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2751947 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:00:43 +0100 2751947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2751978&cid=t_103062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FxgmapjZC0Zw%2F According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, high blood cholesterol affects over 65 million Americans. High cholesterol can lead to heart disease and one that is often preventable, or at least manageable. Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like, waxy substance found in the blood and the body’s cells. The body needs cholesterol as it’s a building block, but not all cholesterol is good and not all cholesterol is bad. Which is which? The low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is considered the “bad” cholesterol and what doctors are looking for when they’re sending you for cholesterol tests. The best way to remember is L is for lower and you want the LDL to be low. The “good” cholesterol is high-density lipoprotein (HDL). You want this one to be h... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2751978 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 06:20:26 +0100 2751978 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2712331&cid=t_103062_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2FDCwP7lo4PZY%2Fhigh-cholesterol-levels-in-your-40s.html I wrote about this issue for the first during April, 2008 --High cholesterol levels in your 40s may raise the chance of developing Alzheimer's disease. Last week, this study of more than 9,000 Californians came back into the news with a newer updated version in the journal Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive DisordersIn the study, People underwent detailed health evaluations between 1964 and 1973 when they were ages 40 to 45, including blood cholesterol measurements. The researchers then looked at the cholesterol measurements of the 504 people in the study who developed Alzheimer's disease decades later.The researchers found that people with moderately elevated cholesterol in their 40s have twice the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in their 60s, 70s and 80s. These findings should serve... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2712331 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:30:26 +0100 2712331 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2699862&cid=t_103062_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2Fv0FQaffE454%2Fwhat-is-mediterranean-style-diet.html More American's--especially the baby boom generation--are learning the importance of eating healthy. Research studies indicate that eating Mediterranean-style seems to reduces the risk of mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer's.There are numerous studies that indicate this style of eating helps reduce cardiovascular risk factors like high cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes. All of the above are linked to Alzheimer's. I have wrote about about all these topics previously on this blog.Subscribe to The Alzheimer's Reading Room--via EmailThe Mediterranean diet is a heart-healthy eating plan combining elements of Mediterranean-style cooking. Here are some good examples of foods on a Mediterranean-style diet?Whole-grain breadsPastaWhole fruits: baby carrots, apples and bananasVeg... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2699862 Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:20:45 +0100 2699862 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2683984&cid=t_103062_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2FXYuGpdqAe5w%2Fcinnamon-increases-cognitive-activity.html Our reader Ray suggested that I list vitamins, supplements, and the dosages that I give my mother each day. I will do that soon. Here is one spice that we take every day--Cinnamon.Let me preface my article by saying this, all of the things I do are designed to benefit my mother, but just as important--keep my body and brain healthy. Since I know that I am genetically predisposed to Alzheimer's, I decided I should do as many things as I can do, right now, to protect my brain and increase cognitive activity.Cinnamon is good source of manganese, fibre, iron and calcium. Several studies indicate that cinnamon may help prevent type II diabetes, lower blood pressure, lower LDL cholesterol, and lower blood sugar. Cinnamon is a powerful antioxidant. I should say, cinnamon is very high in antioxida... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2683984 Sat, 08 Aug 2009 16:50:05 +0100 2683984 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2682115&cid=t_103062_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2FXYuGpdqAe5w%2Fcinnamon-increases-cognitive-activity.html Our reader Ray suggested that I list vitamins, supplements, and the dosages that I give my mother each day. I will do that soon. Here is one spice that we take every day--Cinnamon.Let me preface my article by saying this, all of the things I do are designed to benefit my mother, but just as important--keep my body and brain healthy. Since I know that I am genetically predisposed to Alzheimer's, I decided I should do as many things as I can do, right now, to protect my brain and increase cognitive activity.Cinnamon is good source of manganese, fibre, iron and calcium. Several studies indicate that cinnamon may help prevent type II diabetes, lower blood pressure, lower LDL cholesterol, and lower blood sugar. Cinnamon is a powerful antioxidant. I should say, cinnamon is very high in antioxida... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2682115 Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:15:20 +0100 2682115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2594606&cid=t_103062_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2FCFYfvqHLgKc%2Fomega-3-for-alzheimers-gets-thumbs-down.html An 18 month Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study showed no evidence that Alzheimer's sufferers benefit from taking DHA supplements (omega 3 fatty acid).Previous animal and observational studies suggested that DHA improves memory. While this might be true in healthy individuals, those suffering from Alzheimer's showed no cognitive benefits.I give my mother 2000 mg of Omega 3 fatty acid each day. We take it to reduce cholesterol and tryglicerides. It seems to work for us as we have both lowered our cholesterol and triglyceride levels according to our blood tests.USA Today has a good article up on this topic, go here to continue reading.To read Omega-3 no match for Alzheimer's go here.Or here to read more about the study and results on the Alzheimer's Reading Room.Subscribe to The Alzheimer'... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2594606 Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:08:15 +0100 2594606 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2591587&cid=t_103062_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsarasotaneurology.com%2F2009%2F07%2F10%2Fcoffee-tea-reduce-risk-of-stoke-and-tia%2F In conclusion, it is clear from the available data published in several medical journals, such as Stroke and Circulation, that there is a significant reduction in rate and prevalence of TIA, stroke and stroke symptoms with daily consumption of tea and/or coffee. Higher coffee consumption appears to be associated with a greater reduction in stroke prevalence. This in combination with a healthy diet, exercise of any kind and optimized medical therapy will provide individuals with the greatest protection against having a stroke and stroke prevention. (Source: Sarasota Neurology) Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2591587 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:37:54 +0100 2591587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2752039&cid=t_103062_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsarasotaneurology.com%2F2009%2F07%2F10%2Fcoffee-tea-reduce-risk-of-stroke-and-tia%2F In conclusion, it is clear from the available data published in several medical journals, such as Stroke and Circulation, that there is a significant reduction in rate and prevalence of TIA, stroke and stroke symptoms with daily consumption of tea and/or coffee. Higher coffee consumption appears to be associated with a greater reduction in stroke prevalence. This in combination with a healthy diet, exercise of any kind and optimized medical therapy will provide individuals with the greatest protection against having a stroke and stroke prevention. (Source: Sarasota Neurology) Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2752039 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:33:53 +0100 2752039 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570525&cid=t_103062_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2FhvQo4Rg9aKA%2F Statins are probably the best medications to reduce cholesterol level and also have associated anti-inflammatory activities. Both these properties lead to a marked decrease in atherosclerosis and related diseases. Muscle pain is quite common in people (up to 10%) who take one of the several statins for lowering their cholesterol levels. However, there is no strict consensus on how to define, diagnose and manage such muscle pains. The Annals of Internal Medicine recently published an excellent review on “Statin related myopathy.” Here is a brief summary of the article. Definition: There is no consensus definition. Each group (ACC/AHA, FDA etc) have their own definitions. For most clinical purposes the following definitions should be adequate: Myopathy: Muscle disease with creati... Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570525 Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:13:42 +0100 2570525 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2748160&cid=t_103062_167_f&fid=37833&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnutrition.edublogs.org%2F2009%2F06%2F15%2Fcheerios-a-cholesterol-drug%2F In May the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) sent a warning letter to General Mills, the manufacturers of Cheerios indicating that they had found “serious violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act” in that they believe based on the packaging that Cheerios was “is promoted for conditions that cause it to be a drug because the product is intended for use in the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of disease.” According to the Warning Letter sent by the FDA to Cheerios they were accusing General Mills of marketing an “Unproved New Drug” Based on claims made on your product’s label, we have determined that your Cheerios® Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal is promoted for conditions that cause it to be a drug because the product is intended... Nutrition and Wellness Biology 50 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2748160 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:14:59 +0100 2748160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2447734&cid=t_103062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F3i7Ck-8Rbv4%2F Anyone who has had a gallbladder “attack” knows how uncomfortable it is. They would also like to know how to prevent having another gallstone, avoiding the pain and discomfort. A new study, just presented at the Digestive Disease Week annual meeting, has found that moderate alcohol intake reduces the cholesterol in bile and may decrease the chances of developing gallstones by as much as one third. Gallstones are small stones that develop in the gallbladder, which is a small pear-shaped organ in what is called your right upper abdomen. Bile, which is made in the liver, helps your body digest fats, but the liver makes too much to use all at once. Leftover bile is stored in your gallbladder. When your body needs more bile, the gallbladder releases it into the intestine where the ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2447734 Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:57:00 +0100 2447734 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441535&cid=t_103062_107_f&fid=36698&url=http%3A%2F%2Fminingdrugs.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fdrug-popularity-via-google-queries-yet.html Here some drug popularity trends based on automatic Google queries. The drug names were taken from DrugBank.The top ten areCholesterolAspirinEthanolIbuprofenInsulinAcetaminophenTestosteroneCocaineOxycodoneVardenafilReferencesI used a Python script for the Google data fetching. Let me know, if you need more details.The Long Tail @WikipediaDrugBank: a knowledgebase for drugs, drug actions and drug targets. Wishart DS, Knox C, Guo AC, Cheng D, Shrivastava S, Tzur D, Gautam B, Hassanali M.Nucleic Acids Res. 2008, 36, (Database issue):D901-6.PMID: 18048412DrugBank: a comprehensive resource for in silico drug discovery and exploration.Wishart DS, Knox C, Guo AC, Shrivastava S, Hassanali M, Stothard P, Chang Z, Woolsey J.Nucleic Acids Res. 2006, 34, (Database issue):D668-72. PMID: 16381955 (So... Mining Drug Space blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441535 Fri, 29 May 2009 22:09:00 +0100 2441535 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376220&cid=t_103062_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F27%2Fchocolate-and-mood-disorders%2F Isn’t it great that we can have something that is not only good for us, but fun to use? I’m talking about chocolate! Yes sir, dark gold, pure happiness! You’ve probably heard the buzz about dark chocolate, and how it’s good for your blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, prevents cancer and can fix nearly anything that is wrong with you, except that expanding waistline. (And for the record — white chocolate is not really chocolate at all. It’s milk solids and fat. No cocoa. Nada.) The basic ingredients of dark chocolate include cacao beans, sugar, soy lecithin (an emulsifier to preserve texture), and flavorings. This yummy treat, which contains fewer milk solids than its more popular cousin, milk chocolate, often is rated by the percentage of cocoa solids in the bar. The ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376220 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:33:37 +0100 2376220 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382867&cid=t_103062_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drbriffa.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F04%2F07%2Fstudy-suggests-vitamin-d-deficiency-can-be-the-cause-of-muscle-pain-in-statin-treated-individuals%2F Statin drugs are the most commonly-used medications for reducing cholesterol levels. They do seem to help prevent cardiovascular disease, though whether they do this through their cholesterol reducing effects is a moot point. And despite them being billed as the wonder-drugs of the age, I think it’s worth bearing in mind that these drugs are [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382867 Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:20:17 +0100 2382867 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2302706&cid=t_103062_167_f&fid=36988&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.happynutritionistsnuggets.com%2F2009%2F04%2Finflammation-causing-foods-and.html This article is part of a blog tour for book "The Great Cholesterol Lie".Yesterday the blog tour stopped with Christy Goldfeder who writes a book review of The Great Cholesterol Lie. Tomorrow it will continue with Carrie Huggings who displays a guest post about Myth of Cholesterol.Site Feed (Source: Happy Nutritionist's Nuggets) Happy Nutritionist's Nuggets blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2302706 Sat, 04 Apr 2009 03:02:00 +0100 2302706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382868&cid=t_103062_167_f&fid=38576&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nutrition.org%2Fmedia%2Fpublications%2Fpodcasts%2FpodcastLaymanfinal.mp3 While I don’t believe that what represents an ideal diet is the same for everyone, I do favour diets that are generally rich in protein and relatively low in carbohydrate/ And one reason for this concerns that fact that such diets do tend to outperform high-carb, low-fat diets when it comes to fat loss and [...] (Source: Dr John Biffa's Blog) Dr John Biffa's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382868 Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:08:29 +0100 2382868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2260356&cid=t_103062_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fstatin-ed.html Funny how issues can swirl right past you, until they become personal. Then suddenly you awake to find yourself at the center of the storm!  What I’m getting at here is that a few weeks ago, my endo decided I should start taking a statin drug.  And all of a sudden, all the hullaballoo over [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2260356 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:30:42 +0100 2260356 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2879645&cid=t_103062_123_f&fid=39040&url=http%3A%2F%2Fparentingsense.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fdo-you-need-to-worry-about-your-childs.html As weight problems in children increase in this country, so do earlier cases of diabetes and heart disease. High cholesterol levels can contribute to premature heart disease in some kids. Children who are overweight or obese are at higher risk, as are those with a family history of certain heart problems. For more information, check out this video and accompanying article, and ask your pediatrician if your child should be tested. (Source: Dr. Shu Says) Dr. Shu Says blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2879645 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 01:47:00 +0100 2879645 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2233219&cid=t_103062_140_f&fid=35457&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fbattlingforhealthcom%2F%7E3%2FQ40IFi24p08%2F There are two big “C’s” - cardiovascular disease and cancer - that we are fighting today. A study published in the American Journal of Pathology reveals that high cholesterol levels not only cause atherosclerosis and heart disease but can also contribute to prostate cancer development and progression. The link between cholesterol and cancer has been observed in laboratory mice fed with high fat, high cholesterol diet and treated with the cholesterol uptake-blocking drug ezetimibe. The researchers observed that the fatty cholesterol rich diets promoted tumor growth whereas ezetimibe prevented the tumor growth while lowering cholesterol levels at the same time. Ezetimibe works by blocking the absorption of cholesterol by the intestine. Thus, the study results suggest &#8220... Battling-Schizophrenia blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2233219 Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:06:34 +0100 2233219 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2222590&cid=t_103062_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D6217 VIDEO: Smoking Risks Transcend Social Class and Gender, Few Adolescents Benefit from Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs, Parkinson’s Linked to Melanoma strWebsiteID = window.document.location.toString();strSplitWeb = strWebsiteID.split("/")strWebsiteID = strSplitWeb[2];document.write(”“); from the Malaysian Medical Resources VIDEO: Smoking Risks Transcend Social Class and Gender, Few Adolescents Benefit from Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs, Parkinson’s Linked to Melanoma (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2222590 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2222590 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2200770&cid=t_103062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F_JiMg5J_2tk%2F   Cherries have powerful antioxidants, known as anthocyanins that are thought to help fight inflammation and risk of heart disease. A study conducted by Dr. Steven F. Bolling at the University of Michigan, shows that eating cherries may lower body fat, weight, cholesterol and inflammation. Our bodies use inflammation to fight off infection and injury. A chronic state of inflammation can raise your risk of heart disease.  With 2 out of 3 people overweight or obese in the United States, especially around their middle, this problem is more prevalent. In the study rats were feed a (Western Diet) which was high in fat and moderate carbohydrates.  The study added tart cherry powder to some of the rat’s diet, which caused them to maintain lean muscle mass as well as a decrease in... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2200770 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:00:00 +0100 2200770 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2173241&cid=t_103062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FnvIwd6ht9pA%2F While searching for a topic for the day, I came upon a marvelous story. Kim Bensen was like most of us fighting a weight problem, losing 10 pounds only to gain 15 later. A visit to her health care provider was the awakening moment. Kim was to learn that her cholesterol was at a dangerous level. This could eventually mean heart disease, her weight had become her deadly enemy. Being a young mother she knew that she had to make some life style changes. Kim joined Weight Watchers and within two years had lost 212 pounds. Kim is the author of Finally Thin and is editor for Better TV and Parents TV. Week after week I stuck with it. There were challenges and plateaus. There was hope and victory. My journey was long, but it didn’t matter anymore. I loved what I was doing! I could live with t... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2173241 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:00:00 +0100 2173241 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2160582&cid=t_103062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FLMyeiuz9ypg%2F In today’s fast pace, fast food world even our children have high cholesterol. It is more important than ever to know your cholesterol levels. Good cholesterol HDL levels for men should be higher than 40 and 50 for women. When the levels are over 60 it lowers your risk factors for heart disease. The HDL removes cholesterol from the arteries, taking it back to the liver where it passes from your body. Bad cholesterol or LDL builds up in the walls of the arteries. The walls of your blood vessels will narrow over time, due to the build-up of the fatty deposits. The fatty build-up will slow the blood flow, eventually causing heart failure. It is wise to have a complete physical once a year, this will aid in preventing problems such as high cholesterol. To learn more about choleste... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2160582 Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:00:00 +0100 2160582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2141492&cid=t_103062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FB_W0fdA4QKw%2F CRP or an inflammatory marker is a protein that is made when there is inflammation present in the body. CRP inflammation can be caused by high blood pressure, high blood sugar or smoking, it is also the way your body reacts to injury or infection. CRP(C-reactive protein) inflammation encourages plaque to form in the blood vessels. This plaque will eventually cause the blood vessels to rupture causing a heart attack or stroke. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is often shortened to CPR. When your health care provider is explaining your disorder they will usually use the term CRP.  You will see CRP in written articles also. If you are experiencing any health problems related to your heart make an appointment with your health care provider immediately. Be sure to tell them at t... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2141492 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:00:00 +0100 2141492 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2074610&cid=t_103062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FM1V-Bz3d6H4%2F Researchers have found a gene known only to the Amish population so far. This information may prove to be extremity important in heart research, leading to new methods of preventing heart problems. The researchers found that the older Amish people were the best test subjects. Older Amish are genetically homogenous, that can trace their families back 14 generations all the way to Europe in the 1700 hundreds.  Amish people live a slower pace of life and eat homegrown foods that do not contain preservatives. They get more exercise and have higher levels of good HDL-cholesterol, lower levels of LDL or bad cholesterol. “People who have the mutation all have low triglycerides,” said Toni Pollin of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, who led the study r... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2074610 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:10:35 +0100 2074610 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2065451&cid=t_103062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FvRStkhMKr7E%2F Having a glass of wine over the holiday’s will actually be good for your heart. A glass or two of wine per day will increase the Omega-3 fatty acids in the blood. A research study led by Dr. Romina Di Giuseppe of the Catholic University in Campobasso, Italy, found that the link is stronger among wine drinkers. The link was not as strong in those who drink beer and other alcoholic drinks in moderation. Fish such as salmon and mackerel also lower your triglycerides. Which in turn reduces risk of heart failure due to reducing inflammation and preventing disturbances in the rhythm of the heart. Wine also reduces the chances of blood clots by boosting the blood levels of your good HDL cholesterol. The study will be published in the January issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrit... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2065451 Thu, 25 Dec 2008 19:42:38 +0100 2065451 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2061270&cid=t_103062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FhJYigwLC49Q%2F From 1999 to 2006 the death rate of heart attacks and strokes fell about 30%. A cardiologist from UCLA said this is one of the outstanding achievements of modern history. Even with this amazing news, the death count for Americans in 2006 from heart attacks and strokes was still at 829,072. On an average one American dies from heart disease every 37 seconds. A study on cholesterol levels in men men over 40 and women over 60 showed a 2% improvement. The same study showed no improvement in younger people. We also have a rise in children with high cholesterol, due to their eating habits and little or no exercise. Obesity is a major factor in children with high cholesterol, 4% of the children from 1971-74 were considered obese. The same study showed from 2003-06 a remarkable rise to 17%, of ch... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2061270 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:01:34 +0100 2061270 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2053201&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F489050514%2F New patient therapy starts in the cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure markets - three of the biggies - will be relatively flat in 2009 compared to previous years, with growth expected to be lower than 5 percent in each, according to SDI, a market research firm. “The indication that many patients are going without healthcare coverage, and sometimes their medications, does not bode well for how many new patients will begin prescription therapy in 2009,” says John Ross, SDI’s chief operating officer, in a statement. New patient therapy starts, for those who are unaware, refers to patients who have never before taken a particular med. For the cholesterol market, for instance, SDI projects growth of just 3 percent in new patient therapy starts next year. The diabet... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2053201 Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:35:24 +0100 2053201 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2039981&cid=t_103062_123_f&fid=34778&url=http%3A%2F%2Fparentingsolved.typepad.com%2Fparenting_solved%2F2008%2F12%2Fdo-babies-need-dha-in-their-baby-food.html It’s always been in breast milk, then it appeared in infant formula and now you can find it in baby food.  It’s DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).  So what is DHA and do you need to be feeding your baby DHA-supplemented baby food? What is DHA? DHA is a special fatty acid critical to brain and eye development in babies and young children.  Babies get a bunch of it during the last trimester of gestation and then become dependent upon getting DHA in their diets.  DHA is found in breast milk (as it turns out, levels in breast milk depend upon your diet) and it first was added to infant formula here in the U.S. in 2002. What does it do?  Studies have shown that DHA, when added to a baby’s diet at certain levels, can improve brain development and vision.&#0... Parenting Solved blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2039981 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:04:43 +0100 2039981 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1984846&cid=t_103062_135_f&fid=35262&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsurvivinghiv.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fhow-can-i-lower-cholesterol-without.html (Source: Nelson Vergel's HIV Blog) Nelson Vergel's HIV Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1984846 Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:07:00 +0100 1984846 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1964117&cid=t_103062_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2F454166829%2F Cholesterol is a normal constituent of the human body. However excess cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia or sometimes called dyslipidemia) is one of the most important risk factors for developing heart attack and stroke. Here are a couple of videos on cholesterol explaining why is cholesterol important to the body, how it causes disease and what lifestyle changes are required to decrease excess cholesterol. What does high cholesterol do? (Time 4:11 min) Lifestyle changes for high cholesterol (Time 7:40 min) addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fmedicineandman.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F11%2F15%2Fcholesterol-education-videos%2F'; addthis_title = 'Cholesterol+education+videos'; addthis_pub = ''; (Source: Medicine and Man) Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1964117 Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:36:24 +0100 1964117 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1955502&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F449644613%2F And what is the drugmaker’s ceo cautious about? The eye-popping assumptions that Crestor sales will skyrocket, pun intended, now that the widely hyped Jupiter study found that cholesterol pill reduced the risk of cardiovascular death and heart attacks by 44 percent in people with low LDL cholesterol levels compared with patients on a placebo. “We’ve seen a flurry of estimates from analysts about the commercial impact of Jupiter, some of them pretty bullish, reflecting a view that there will be a near term, dramatic shift in medical practice,” he told journalists on a conference call. “I would urge caution when forecasting the speed of such changes in medical practice.” Why so sobering? Well, the Jupiter study measured a protein called CRP, which is used ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1955502 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:39:15 +0100 1955502 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1947491&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F447441711%2F The results of AstraZeneca’s hotly anticipated Jupiter study - which measured levels of a protein called CRP that can indicate arteries are inflamed and point toward heart disease - were just released at the American Heart Association meeting and they are likely to stir as much debate as promised. The cholesterol pill reduced the risk of cardiovascular death and heart attacks by 44 percent compared with patients on a placebo. The 17,802 participants were men over 50 years old and women over 60 years old - ripe ages for heart attacks, but who were healthy. They did not display signs of heart disease and had cholesterol levels not requiring meds under current guidelines. The study is available in The New England Journal of Medicine. Other findings: the combined risk of heart attack, st... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1947491 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:47:57 +0100 1947491 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1962905&cid=t_103062_117_f&fid=38158&url=http%3A%2F%2Famericanacupuncture.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fis-lowering-cholesterol-always.html IS LOWERING CHOLESTROL ALWAYS  BENEFICIAL? Controlling cholesterol is gospel in heart medicine.  It guides treatment, and sell billions of dollars in drugs.  We all are told bad cholesterol, LDL causes heart attacks and good cholesterol HDL, is protective.  But why do people with great cholesterol levels still suffer heart attacks?  Twenty-one years ago, the FDA approved the first statin drugs to lower LDL.   18-year-old kids killed in the Korean War already had plaque build up.   The disease really starts as kids.  But is there a missing link called inflammation that may be a high risk factor. Cholesterol builds cell membranes, and forms hormones.  It doesn’t dissolve in the blood but is carried by lipoproteins as LDL from the liver to other tissues and by HDL from tissues to... Dr. Needles Medical Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1962905 Sun, 02 Nov 2008 02:24:00 +0100 1962905 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1924709&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F437306919%2F A forthcoming AstraZeneca study could dramatically increase the market for cholesterol-lowering drugs, otherwise known as statins, which are already pharma’s biggest success story, Forbes writes. Known as Jupiter, the study tested the theory that Crestor combats lower artery inflammation, which can cause cholesterol plaque to burst into heart-attack-causing clots. Some 18,000 people were tested with low levels of LDL, but high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), which could indicate that the arteries are inflamed, the mag writes. In March, the study was stopped early because of “unequivocal” benefit, and now, some scientists hope for blowout results when the full data are presented on November 9 at the American Heart Association meeting, Forbes says. And by the way, sinc... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1924709 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:31:21 +0100 1924709 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1889073&cid=t_103062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FquoNcej4iOQ%2F … he has identified how two different kinds of Chlamydia can cause both coronary artery disease and miscarriages. Solving one mystery gave him clues that he needed to figure out the other. By focusing on the immune system mechanisms in Chlamydia infections, Azenabor has identified an important link in seemingly unrelated health problems. The result could be new treatments and prevention strategies for both heart disease and infertility. Chlamydia pneumoniae is a microbe that normally causes pneumonia and bronchitis, but it has long been associated with atherosclerosis, a cardiovascular disease also called “hardening of the arteries.” Huh? Chlamydia? Yes, when the macrophages’ cell walls are infected with the C. pneumoniae their usually tight cholesterol, which they regularly store,... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1889073 Fri, 17 Oct 2008 01:24:26 +0100 1889073 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1862822&cid=t_103062_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2F415363072%2F A new campaign “Read ‘em before you eat ‘em” led by NYC’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, hopes to make a dent in the preventable health problems and early deaths caused by obesity each year. This campaign comprises a series of ads being but up in New York Subway cars and is designed to help New Yorkers see how quickly fast-food calories add up. Here are the initial set of ads: addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fmedicineandman.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F10%2F08%2Fnyc-anti-obesity-ads%2F'; addthis_title = 'NYC+anti-obesity+ads'; addthis_pub = ''; (Source: Medicine and Man) Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1862822 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:40:00 +0100 1862822 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1844792&cid=t_103062_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2F407735128%2F Michael Pollen’s new book, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto argues for simplification of dietary habits in this world of complicated food products. This is what he has to say in a nutshell: What to Eat? Don’t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food (non-dairy creamer?) Avoid food products with ingredients that are unfamiliar, unpronounceable, more than 5 in number, or that contain high-fructose corn syrup (none of these is necessarily bad in itself, but they raise red flags). Avoid food products that make health claims. Broccoli and tomatoes are silent. If a product needs to crow about being healthy, chances are it isn’t. Shop the periphery of the supermarket where the fresh food resides Get out of the supermarket and shop at a farmers’ m... Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1844792 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:03:49 +0100 1844792 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1833261&cid=t_103062_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2F403067482%2F This Medco analysis implies that the perceived therapeutic benefit of generics over brand name in the minds of patients may not be that significant as earlier thought. The analysis also reveals that reaching the Coverage Gap dramatically stimulates the use of generics among all Medicare recipients. During the initial phase of the benefit, when the plan provides drug coverage, one-third of the medications used daily by beneficiaries were generics and two-thirds were brand-name drugs. Once beneficiaries reached the Gap and were responsible for the full cost of the drug, those numbers flip - generic usage rises to 71 percent and brand-name use falls to 29 percent. What other factors could be playing a role and how do we counteract it? Reference: Medco, ACP Internist addthis_url = 'http%3... Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1833261 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:30:36 +0100 1833261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1825814&cid=t_103062_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2F402246119%2F Promote junk food, raise cholesterol levels and then prescribe cholesterol lowering drugs. This is capitalism at its best. Can we fight it? So if everybody hates the idea of giving statins to kids…..why don’t we restrict marketing junk food to children, improve the quality of nutrition at school, promote physical activity at school and increase funding for obesity prevention and treatment? Your Child’s Lunch Box What’s next? Hamburger with a topping of statins! Cheese fortified with statins! Statin Water!………….. Video: Reinventing the school lunch Speaking at the 2007 EG conference, “renegade lunch lady” Ann Cooper talks about the coming revolution in the way kids eat at school — local, sustainable, seasonal and even educatio... Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1825814 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:07:16 +0100 1825814 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1794380&cid=t_103062_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F09%2F15%2Fnewer-antipsychotics-no-better-than-older-ones%2F In case you needed more proof that the new drugs being marketed today are no better than the cheaper, older drugs, well a new study was recently published just for you: The six-year, multisite Treatment of Early Onset Schizophrenia Study (TEOSS) included 116 youth between 8 and 19 years old, diagnosed with early onset schizophrenia spectrum disorder (EOSS). The TEOSS team randomly assigned the children to eight weeks of either olanzapine (Zyprexa) or risperidone (Risperdal)—both new generation atypical antipsychotics—or to the older conventional antipsychotic molindone (Moban) plus benztropine, a medication often used to reduce side effects like uncontrolled shaking or tremor that can be associated with molindone. […] Response rates after eight weeks of treatment were compara... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1794380 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:32:22 +0100 1794380 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1769440&cid=t_103062_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHEALTH%2F%7E3%2F383877706%2F Conclusion My thanks to everyone that contributed articles — it’s been great hosting the Cancer Research Blog Carnival for a second time this year. Be sure to take a moment and let your fellow bloggers know this issue is available so that everyone’s hard work can be appreciated and enjoyed by all. The Cancer Research Blog Carnival is looking for future hosts. You can find both the hosting schedule and past editions at the Cancer Research Blog Carnival website. For more information on the U.S. investment in cancer research, you can read the NCI’s plan and budget proposal for fiscal year 2009. References Niederhuber JE. A look inside the National Cancer Institute budget process: implications for 2007 and beyond. Cancer Res. 2007 Feb 1;67(3):856-62. View abstract The ... Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1769440 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:49:31 +0100 1769440 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1754769&cid=t_103062_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2F381836034%2F In a new article released online (ahead of print) in the New England Journal of Medicine (SEAS Trial), Schering-Plough’s “would be” blockbuster drug ezitimibe (Zetia) has again not only fallen short of it’s expectations, but now may also be linked with increased cancer risk. In patients taking Vytorin (simvastatin + ezitimibe) there was an increased number of cancers (no particular type) when it was given to try to prevent aortic stenosis (thickening of a valve located in the blood outflow tract in the heart). Aortic stenosis in elderly is related to atherosclerosis and has many of the same risk factors as for heart attacks. This trial was therefore designed to see if Vytorin could prevent/delay development of aortic stenosis. Unfortunately, Vytorin fell short in th... Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1754769 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 02:04:02 +0100 1754769 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1726328&cid=t_103062_127_f&fid=34828&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrclouthier.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fvytorin-cancer-link.html Another reason not to use pharmaceuticals to lower cholesterol. Over the past few years more and more of these dire warnings are coming out. Please consider using natural means to lower cholesterol. If you don't know where to start email me at drclouthier@gmail.com and I will help. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier) Dr. Steve Clouthier blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1726328 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:33:00 +0100 1726328 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1723650&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F371250311%2F One month after the curious finding that a few dozen cancer and cancer-related deaths were found in a Vytorin trial called SEAS, the agency has decided the results warrant its own investigation. Earlier today, the House Energy & Commerce Committee stepped up its own probe of the controversial cholesterol pill by demanding Merck and Schering-Plough, which jointly market Vytorin, turn over documents relating to the trial and its analysis. The FDA expects to receive a “final” report from the drugmakers in three months. In announcing its investigation, the FDA notes that “interim data from two large ongoing cardiovascular trials of Vytorin – the Study of Heart and Renal Protection (SHARP) and the Improved Reduction in High-Risk Subjects Presenting with Acute Coronary S... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1723650 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:32:18 +0100 1723650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1720550&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F370855536%2F Those wildly popular statins, which are taken by millions of Americans, don’t raise the risk of cancer, after all, according to a new report in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Last year, the same authors from Tufts University School of Medicine published a paper that found cancer rates rose in tandem with lower cholesterol levels in patients taking statins. The new report, however, shows nearly an identical relationship of more malignancies in people with lower cholesterol, even when they weren’t taking the meds. The findings appear to clear statins from responsibility for the cancers, Richard Karas, director of preventive cardiology at Tufts Medical Center and the senior author of the paper, tells Bloomberg News. “We found that there is indeed an asso... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1720550 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:34:50 +0100 1720550 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1717574&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F368975375%2F Is it possible? Have Vytorin prescriptions finally hit bottom? Maybe. Back in January, when preliminary results for the Enhance trial were released, scrips were about 1.8 million, but then sunk to 1.33 million in June. Last month, though, scrips rose about 90,000, according to a filing by Schering-Plough with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This happened despite the confusion over the recently released Seas trial, which failed a primary endpoint and, moreover, yielded a puzzling number of cancer cases. However, there is another way to slice the data (isn’t there always?) Although scrips were up for Vytorin and Zetia, both of which Schering-Plough and Merck co-market in a rather strained joint venture, scrips for the entire cholesterol market also rose to their highest levels ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1717574 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:01:38 +0100 1717574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1693620&cid=t_103062_127_f&fid=34828&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrclouthier.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fit-is-time-to-question-any-intervention.html I will say it once again: Taking ANY cholesterol lowering medication is a risky scheme. How many times is it now that we have seen serious questions arise regarding the effects of cholesterol lowering medications ? This does not include the number of times that these medications have been removed from the pharmaceutical shelves. Then, these same damaging medications that were removed due to public danger, are replaced with a new medication that continues to cause physical damage and potential damage to human beings. I suggest looking at other factors with a very determined eye first:1. Thyroid balance2. Liver detoxification3. Liver and gallbladder dysfunction4. Diet and Exercise5. Emotional balance related to anger and resentmentI would start with these things first and progress. I have ha... Dr. Steve Clouthier blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1693620 Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:30:00 +0100 1693620 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1696359&cid=t_103062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F66O2sHN1RNc%2F Persons with heart disease need to worry with controlling their overall cholesterol levels and not just “bad” cholesterol levels.  So important that this is re-examined. High cholesterol and heart disease do not mix! Researchers found that 37 percent of Americans with diseases that affect the heart and vascular system had reached recommended levels of LDL-C (bad cholesterol), but only 17 percent were at recommended levels for all lipids – LDL-C, HDL-C (“good” cholesterol) and triglycerides. In contrast, 85 percent of those without cardiovascular diseases were at recommended LDL-C levels, while 67 percent were at recommended levels for all lipids.  What do we need to do to decrease our risk levels? Control your weight, blood pressure and blood lipid levels through good l... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1696359 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:53:19 +0100 1696359 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1689049&cid=t_103062_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsarasotaneurology.com%2F2008%2F08%2F07%2Fhealth-benefits-from-omega-3-fish-oil%2F There are many studies that have shown excellent health benefits from taking omega 3 type fish oil. Omega 3 oils are found in fish oils, flax seed and several vegetable oils including canola, soybean and olive oils. There are different components to these oils that provide health benefits. The DHA and EPA oils in fish oil have been linked to reducing hardening of the arteries and lowering triglycerides. They also have the benefit of lowering blood pressure and heart rate to a mild degree. This all results in an overall reduction in risk for coronary artery disease, heart attack, sudden death, irregular heart beat and stroke. Fish oil can also have a blood thinning effect to reduce abnormal blood clotting, similar to that of aspirin. This latter effect is a two edge sword because too much f... Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1689049 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:19:26 +0100 1689049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1658226&cid=t_103062_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fthe-best-part-of-wine%2F The Abstinent Approach to Healthy Wine Consumption In the Sober Kitchen by Recovering Chef Liz Scott No doubt since you put down that last drink, you have noticed that researchers are continually discovering good and healthy things about drinking, particularly red wine. Most recently, a compound called resveratrol, which is present in grape skins and seeds, has been pinpointed as the potentially key component in red wine that can contribute to good health. In addition to preventing damage to blood vessels, reducing bad cholesterol, and preventing blood clots, resveratrol may also help protect from obesity and diabetes. “…some studies have even shown that drinking red or purple grape juice provides the same heart-healthy benefits of red wine…” For sober folks an... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1658226 Sun, 27 Jul 2008 11:54:36 +0100 1658226 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1634881&cid=t_103062_123_f&fid=34778&url=http%3A%2F%2Fparentingsolved.typepad.com%2Fparenting_solved%2F2008%2F07%2Fi-just-read-tar.html I just read Tara Parker Pope’s New York Times piece (Sunday July 13, 2008) on the American Academy of Pediatrics cholesterol position and I’m disappointed. Without so much as a shred of evidence, Ms. Pope suggests a link between the AAP’s recommendations and inappropriate influence by the pharmaceutical industry. As a major manufacturer of vaccines, Merck, for example, has a longstanding history of support for medical education. To imply that such support would in any way influence AAP policy on child health is irresponsible. Beyond implicating the Academy, Ms. Pope creates more innuendo when she details the history of funding support for individual members of the AAP’s Committee on Nutrition. But the piece is unable to make any connection between support for a visiting professors... Parenting Solved blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1634881 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:49:29 +0100 1634881 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1618127&cid=t_103062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F334607906%2F Leading US doctors are saying that children as young as 8 should receive statins as a course of treatment for high cholesterol. Currently in many places such as the UK kids with a rare gene fault are being prescribed statins but US pediatricians are taking it one step further. The American Academy of Pediatrics, however, believes that the drugs, which are used by millions of adults worldwide, could benefit thousands more children who are already obese, or showing signs of high blood pressure or type II diabetes. Many UK docs do not agree with this decision and state that this is being used in place of a good diet and exercise. What do you think- would you place your child on a statin or is your child already taking a cholesterol lowering medication? via BBC  Tags: children, diet exercise,... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1618127 Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:32:56 +0100 1618127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1616318&cid=t_103062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F333159938%2F Thanks to Ruth at Eating Fabulous, I have this great bit of cholesterol information to share with you… In  study sponsored by Lichtwer Pharma, a German manufacturer of herbal supplements, UK researchers found that a preparation of artichoke leaf extract helped decrease cholesterol levels in healthy adults with raised cholesterol levels. Yes artichoke leaf extract! When studied the supplement made a 6.1% difference among the test and study group.  The supplements used were Lichtwer Pharma-branded Cynara. Has anyone heard of this previous or does anyone already take artichoke supplements to help with cholesterol? Who would have thought… hat tip Ruth  Tags: , artichoke leaf supplement, cholesterol, cynara, heart-disease, lower cholesterolShare This (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1616318 Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:02:48 +0100 1616318 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1594007&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F328839452%2F The nation’s pediatricians are recommending wider cholesterol screening for children and more aggressive use of cholesterol meds starting as early as the age of 8 in hopes of preventing adult heart problems, The New York Times reports, adding that new guidelines are expected to be issued today by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Why do this? The Times writes that proponents say there is growing evidence the first signs of heart disease show up in childhood. And with 30 percent of the nation’s children overweight or obese, many docs fear a rash of early heart attacks and diabetes is on the horizon as these children grow up. Previously, the academy had said cholesterol drugs should be considered in children older than 10 if they fail to lose weight after a 6-to 12-month effort. The a... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1594007 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:31:02 +0100 1594007 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543927&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F319928034%2F Most likely, you will not find this surprising. In any event, the use of cholesterol-lowering pills - otherwise known as statins - rose by 156 percent between 2000 and 2005, according to the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The number of people obtaining a prescription for a statin nearly doubled, from 15.8 milllion to 29.7 million. Looked at another way, the number of outpatient scrips rose to nearly 174 million from about 90 million. Along with the usage, the register rang innumerable times - spending jumped during that period to $19.7 billion from $7.7 billion. Each individual spent $484 a year, on average, to lower their cholesterol in 2000, and that rose to $661 by 2005. Although the AHRQ report doesn’t look at the past three years, the individual spending may hav... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543927 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:13:13 +0100 1543927 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1538241&cid=t_103062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F317736344%2F I saw a commercial for a new combination medicine. Caduet. It is a mix of Norvasc and Lipitor and I wrote about it last year when it first came on the scene. It lowers your blood pressure while lowering your cholesterol. I still have yet to really see this medication prescribed. Here are its benefits… CADUET can be taken anytime, day or night, with or without food. CADUET offers every dose combination of Norvasc and Lipitor for flexible dosing options (excluding 1 combination: CADUET 2.5 mg/80 mg). CADUET is available on many managed care plans nationwide. It is like killing 2 birds with 1 stone- with only one co-pay.  Have you tried it? Or do you know someone that has? How did they make out? I would love some feedback. via Caduet Official Site Tags: cadu... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1538241 Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:54:08 +0100 1538241 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1492077&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fbad-news-about-good-cholesterol-adds-to.html "'Good' cholesterol that scientists have thought helped unclog arteries had no effect on heart disease in a study, casting doubt on a theory drugmakers have spent more than $1 billion pursuing," says an article on Bloomberg.com (see "Why Pfizer Flopped: Good Cholesterol, not so good, says study").Add this to results from the Vytorin/Zetia study that failed to prove that lowering 'bad' cholesterol does not seem to lessen buildup of plaque on arteries and you seem to have a "perfect storm" that may eventually sink the whole anti-cholesterol drug market!Maybe I am not a good focus group of one, but in response to all this bad news about the failings of statins and other cholesterol-lowering drugs, I have done the following:Stopped taking my cholesterol drugs (Pravachol and Zetia) and focused ... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1492077 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:10:00 +0100 1492077 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1492321&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F304078718%2F The good cholesterol that scientists have thought helped unclog arteries had no effect on heart disease in a study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association, casting doubt on a theory drugmakers have spent more than $1 billion pursuing, Bloomberg News writes. Researchers studied people who have a genetic condition that causes them to produce very low levels of HDL cholesterol, expecting they’d be about twice as likely to have heart disease. Instead, they had no greater risk, throwing into question the notion that raising HDL helps reduce plaque in arteries, a theory Pfizer, Merck and Roche have all pursued at various times, the wire notes. “There is really no evidence that this method is going to work,” Anne Tybjaerg-Hansen, a study and clinical... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1492321 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:08:25 +0100 1492321 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1475416&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F299995965%2F And can ring a few registers, too. In the UK, more than a million people will be put on statins to lower their cholesterol level and prevent heart attacks, under new guidelines published today. Docs are urged to trawl the records of patients aged 40 and over to find people with a one in five chance of having a heart attack or stroke and call them in for advice and drugs, The Telegraph reports. Four million people already take statins, mostly after heart attacks. But the UK’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence wants healthy people deemed at high risk of an attack or a stroke within 10 years to have preventive drugs as well, the paper writes. That would put 1.5 million more on meds and should prevent an extra 15,000 heart attacks, strokes and new cases of angina eac... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1475416 Wed, 28 May 2008 17:55:00 +0100 1475416 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1472423&cid=t_103062_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fstatin-police.html What is the evidence?You are just finishing lunch when the phone rings. “Hello, may I speak to Mr (pause, a rustle of paper) Jones?”“Speaking”“Hello, Mr Jones, may I take a minute of your time to discuss health issues?”“What are you selling?”“I am not selling anything, Mr Jones. Mr Jones we just happen to be in your area, and we notice that you are now 48 years old, Mr Jones, and that your father died aged 69 of a heart attack.”“How do you know this?”“Have you considered, Mr Jones, that if you were to take just one tablet a day of ‘Plugastatin’ you, Mr Jones, could reduce your risk of heart disease?”“I don’t want to buy anything. I am going to hang up now”.“But Mr Jones, your last blood pressure reading was 148/88 and you were 10 lbs above your ideal... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1472423 Wed, 28 May 2008 08:18:00 +0100 1472423 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4325092&cid=t_103062_8_f&fid=39313&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorsontm.com%2F78-the-transcendental-meditation-technique-lowers-cholesterol-levels Dr. Robert Schneider, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.B.M.R., is an NIH-funded medical researcher and author of Total Heart Health: How to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease with the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health (Basic Health Publications, 2006). Here he answers questions on cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. Q: What about high cholesterol? Can the Transcendental Meditation program help reduce high levels of cholesterol? Dr. Schneider: High cholesterol is another major ris [...] (Source: The American Association of Physicians Practicing the Transcendental Meditation Program Blog) The American Association of Physicians Practicing the Transcendental Meditation Program Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4325092 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0100 4325092 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1404197&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F279384627%2F Last Friday, Genzyme and Isis Pharmaceuticals disclosed that the FDA wants them to gather more data in order to win approval for a novel cholesterol drug. Specifically, the agency indicated that lowering cholesterol is an “acceptable surrogate endpoint” for using their mipomersen in patients with a rare, inherited form of high cholesterol. But an outcomes trial will be needed to win approval for other patients with high cholesterol. Such a trial can prove valuable if the outcome is achieved, but it’s also expensive and time-consuming because many more patients are needed to enroll. Interestingly, Zetia was approved six years ago on its ability to lower cholesterol, but actual outcomes data for Vytorin still isn’t available. We mention both drugs in the same breath... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1404197 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:20:34 +0100 1404197 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1400714&cid=t_103062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F277925469%2F Here are some Friday links for you… Novel Way to Prevent Cardiac Fibrosis Identified- In a study that points to a new strategy for preventing or possibly reversing fibrosis — the scarring that can lead to organ and tissue damage — researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have determined that a molecule called Epac (Exchange protein activated by cAMP1), plays a key role in integrating the body’s pro- and anti-fibrotic response. Chocolate Bar Shown To Lower Cholesterol- “Eating two CocoaVia dark chocolate bars a day not only lowered cholesterol, it had the unexpected effect of also lowering systolic blood pressure,” said John Erdman, a U. of I. professor of food science and human nutrition. Heart Derived Stem Cells Develop ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1400714 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:15:28 +0100 1400714 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1375200&cid=t_103062_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2F271000486%2F Administration of the popular anti-inflammatory drug Celebrex (celecoxib, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) in combination with Lipitor (atorvastatin, a cholesterol lowering drug or statin) halts the transition of early prostate cancer to its more aggressive and potentially deadly stage. “Anti-androgen therapy slows the prostate cancer but eventually the cancer becomes androgen-independent, the therapy becomes ineffective and the cancer cells become more aggressive,” said Xi Zheng, assistant research professor at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, who conducted the study. “Treatments available for the later stage cancers are not very good,” said Allan Conney, director of Rutgers’ Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research, another resea... Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1375200 Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:02:12 +0100 1375200 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1369143&cid=t_103062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F269457342%2F Here is some good news, especially for me who looovvvees any type of nut. Macadamia nuts are now being given the thumbs up and should be included among other nuts that have qualified health claims. Included in a heart healthy diet, macadamia nuts did reduce total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels. Up to this point, macadamia nuts as well as Brazil nuts and cashews were not included in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s list of nuts with qualified health claims due to their saturated fat level of 6g per 50 grams of nuts and the cut off being 4 g per 50 grams of nuts. Now go eat some nuts! Tags: cholesterol, heart-health, Hearty Diet, lipids, macadamia nuts, nutritionShare This (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1369143 Sun, 13 Apr 2008 14:12:02 +0100 1369143 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1363930&cid=t_103062_137_f&fid=36083&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FIAmAnAlzheimersCaregiver%2F%7E3%2F267867561%2Fstatins-that-stave-off-alzheimers-zocor.html "The strength of reduction of incidence of dementia with simvastatin (Zocor) is striking". When I read this article in July, 2007, I asked the doctor to switch my mother from Lovastatin to Zocor. At that time, Zocor was more expensive but now it is also a generic. In the previous article on this blog I mentioned this decision. You can read... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: I am an Alzheimer's Caregiver) I am an Alzheimer's Caregiver blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1363930 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:50:44 +0100 1363930 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1363931&cid=t_103062_137_f&fid=36083&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FIAmAnAlzheimersCaregiver%2F%7E3%2F267851557%2Flovastatin-shown-to-slow-progression-of.html This is a classic example of the Alzheimer's CareGiver conundrum. I switched my mother from Lovastatin to Zocor after reading a similar article pointing out the benefits of statins. I'll put the article up on Zocor soon. Zocor did improve her cholesterol numbers. clipped from www.medicalnewstoday.comHigh cholesterol levels are considered to be... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: I am an Alzheimer's Caregiver) I am an Alzheimer's Caregiver blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1363931 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:27:12 +0100 1363931 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1349496&cid=t_103062_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F04%2F03%2Feasy-health-tip-cut-bad-cholesterol-with-this-little-wonder%2F picApp_publisherId = 473;picApp_imageId = 11954;picApp_imageWidth = 271;picApp_imageHeight = 408;picApp_configUrl = "http://pis.picapp.com/IamProd/FlashSite/GetConfig.aspx";picApp_Picview="http://pis.picapp.com/IamProd/FlashSite/en/picviewerv1_1.swf";picapp_numberOfLine=1;ImageServe(); That’s right! According to a recent article in Woman’s World magazine (April 7th edition), red grapefruit can help lower your “bad” (aka LDL) cholesterol levels by as much as 20%. This seems to be the case whether or not your high cholesterol is responsive to statin drugs or whether you make any diet or lifestyle changes. So what’s behind this little Wonder Fruit? Experts claim the antioxidants in red grapefruit have the power to inhibit the liver’s tendency to overproduce... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1349496 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 02:37:33 +0100 1349496 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1347673&cid=t_103062_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Ftrans-fats-a-scambuster-report%2F Most people know that foods containing trans fats are bad, which is good. But not everyone realizes that foods containing no trans fats are not necessarily good, which is bad. You can hardly walk through the supermarket without being bombarded with product messages announcing “No Trans Fats,” as if that fact automatically rendered them healthful. In fact, a product could contain no trans fats and actually be 100 percent pure fat! That’s because there are two main types of fats; namely, saturated and unsaturated fats. And while avoiding trans fats is a good idea, equally, if not more important, is monitoring and limiting saturated fat intake because saturated fat (along with trans fat and cholesterol) raise the bad LDL form of cholesterol and lower the good HDL form. The way this work... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1347673 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:46:51 +0100 1347673 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1347319&cid=t_103062_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2008%2F4%2F3%2Fpot-bellies-of-the-worldbeware.html By Dov Michaeli MD, Ph.D So you don’t exercise. And you like your six pack. And you have a bit of a pot belly. But you are not overweight. In fact, your BMI is in the normal range. Do you feel pretty smug? Read on, and I think you’ll get shaken up a bit, as you should. Central Obesity The correlation between obesity and diabetes and heart disease is well known. In fact, we now know that people should be concerned not only about body fat, but importantly: where this fat is located. Waistline fat is a major risk factor of diabetes and heart disease, deceptively cute names like “love handles” not withstanding. But did you know that being a Michelin Man may end up in dementia? The Kaiser study I certainly did not suspect it. And I dare say,I don’t know anybod... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1347319 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:57:44 +0100 1347319 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1338215&cid=t_103062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F261223750%2F Some Japanese are questioning standards for cholesterol care after learning that university docs involved in drawing up guidelines received donations from some of the same drugmakers that make and sell meds for metabolic syndrome and high cholesterol, The Daily Yomiuri reports. In fact, the docs received far more cash than other docs. The issue is raising questions about whether researchers who have received corporate donations can remain impartial. Meanwhile, the paper adds that some experts are skeptical about the guidelines due to their low thresholds, which are capable of categorizing healthy people as being sick and in need of medication. The standard for determining whether a person has high cholesterol is set in line with Japan Atherosclerosis Society guidelines, which defines a tot... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1338215 Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:07:09 +0100 1338215