Breakthrough in slashing elevated LDL cholesterol to save lives
More than 92 million Americans take statins, according to the Cleveland Clinic, and you can bet all of them are hoping that will protect them from having what doctors like to call "an adverse cardiovascular event" (aka heart attack, stroke, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease or A-fib) and prevent death from such conditions. But for folks who have already had a heart attack or who have significantly blocked arteries and are at a high risk of a heart attack, it turns out statins alone don't offer maximum protection.
A meta-study in Mayo Clinic Proceedings looked at more than 100,000 patients who were taking a high-dose statin in combination with another medication called ezetimibe -- aka Zetia -- (it lowers LDL cholesterol by preventing it from being absorbed in the small intestine) and found that taking the two medications together could prevent thousands of deaths annually.
The combo therapy reduces LDL levels by an extra 13 mg/dL compared to statins alone and reduces the risk of death from cardiovascular disease by an additional 16%, stroke by an additional 17% and a combination of those major adverse events by another 18%. What's not to love?
You can also lower your lousy LDL (or apolipoprotein B -- I like lowering that too, not just LDL) and reduce your cardio risks by adopting LongevityPlaybook's five pillars of well-being: a plant-based diet, stress management, habits that promote brain health, regular aerobic and strength-building exercise, and a healthy sleep routine. It may also be smart to add newly validated treatments, such as Therapeutic Plasma Exchange.
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.longevityplaybook.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@longevityplaybook.com.
(c)2023 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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