Your Heart Health e-News - December 2011

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December 02, 2011

In This Issue
First Generic Lipitor Approved
Clogged Arteries Pose Different Dangers for Men, Women: Study
Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Safe for Long-Term Use, Study Finds
Women, Younger Men Under-Treated Before Heart Attack: Study
High Doses of Statins Tied to Less Arterial Plaque in Study
Cholesterol Drug Shows Promise in Early Research
Fewer Disease Risk Factors Yet More Fatal Heart Attacks
Shot Might One Day Help Lower Cholesterol
Today's Feature

Welcome to Dr. Caren and Dr. Urman's
Heart Health e-Newsletter

We hope you find this complimentary monthly educational service for our patients and their families helpful. Please click on the header above or here to enter our website and learn more about our practice. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or wish to make an appointment.  

The "Featured" column on the right has heart-related stories from the last several weeks which we feel are most important and most likely to be of interest to our patients (it is particularly interesting this month given the recent American Heart Association [AHA] scientific sessions).  Additional general information and recent news about our office can also be found to the right.

This month, with the big news being "Lipitor becomes available in generic," we highlight cholesterol and prevention below under "Health News."


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Health News

First Generic Lipitor Approved

Widely used statin drug helps lower bad cholesterol

THURSDAY, Dec. 1 The first generic version of the cholesterol-lowering statin Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Drug maker Ranbaxy Laboratories, based in India, has gained approval to produce the tablets in 10 ... » Read the full article



Clogged Arteries Pose Different Dangers for Men, Women: Study

Heart treatment might need to take gender into account, researcher says

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 30 Not all clogged arteries are created equal, with women and men facing different heart risks even when they have the same amount of coronary plaque, a new study suggests.

Analyzing the results of coronary CT angiographies -- non-invasive tests that ... » Read the full article



Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Safe for Long-Term Use, Study Finds

Statins reduce heart risks without raising odds of cancer, other illnesses, research shows

TUESDAY, Nov. 22 British researchers have good news for anyone taking the cholesterol-lowering medications known as statins: These drugs are effective and safe, even when used for long periods of time, they say.

The 11-year study found th... » Read the full article



Women, Younger Men Under-Treated Before Heart Attack: Study

Older males more likely to get preventive medications, researchers say

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 16 Women and younger men account for a large number of heart attacks in the United States but are less likely than older men to receive preventive medications that lower heart attack risk, a new study indicates.

Researchers... » Read the full article



High Doses of Statins Tied to Less Arterial Plaque in Study

Two-thirds of patients given high-dose Crestor or Lipitor had reduced buildup in vessel walls

TUESDAY, Nov. 15 High doses of the cholesterol-lowering statins Crestor and Lipitor reduced the amount of plaque in coronary arteries and reversed the progression of coronary artery disease, new research shows.

The study included 1,385 patients who took either 40 mi... » Read the full article



Cholesterol Drug Shows Promise in Early Research

If proven, it could cut bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol, but more study needed

TUESDAY, Nov. 15 Preliminary trials indicate that a new drug designed to simultaneously boost good cholesterol while lowering bad cholesterol shows considerable promise, both on its own and in combination with standard statin medications.

... » Read the full article



Fewer Disease Risk Factors Yet More Fatal Heart Attacks

Healthier profile might delay cardiac problems until old age, researchers say

TUESDAY, Nov. 15 People with more risk factors for heart disease are more likely than healthier individuals to suffer a first heart attack, according to a large new study. No surprise there. But patients with fewer or no risk factors are more likely to die from that heart atta... » Read the full article



Shot Might One Day Help Lower Cholesterol

In early trial, it lowered LDL levels by up to 64 percent

MONDAY, Nov. 14 Preliminary research suggests that a single injection of a man-made protein might lower levels of "bad" cholesterol.

Given in the abdomen, AMG145 reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels among a group of healthy volunteers. The shot... » Read the full article



Featured:
Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports: The Last Heart Attack
  Sanjay Gupta investigates whether diet and the latest diagnostic tests are enough to prevent every heart attack in this hour-long CNN documentary. Dr. Gupta also talks to former President Clinton.
Even Without Weight Loss, Mediterranean Diet Helps Heart: Study
  Foods like olive oil, nuts and avocados may help body use insulin
What is the Mediterranean Diet?
  Eat like a Mediterranean — but how? Here's what the research says — and doesn't say — about the Mediterranean diet (LA Times)
Study links Greek diet to longer life
  Island of Crete residents have the lowest heart disease and cancer rates of all seven countries in the study, including Italy, a 2001 paper asserts (LA Times).
Lipitor Goes Generic, Saving Patients Money
  Top-selling cholesterol-lowering drug will be available to more people
Generic Lipitor (atorvastatin): A Users' Guide
  (Wall Street Journal article - subscription required)
Pfizer To Make A Deal With Express Scripts To Hold Off On Lipitor Sales
  The companies will block generic versions of Lipitor from reaching some customers until the end of May 2012 (Bloomberg)
Pfizer Looks To Sell Lipitor Directly To Patients
  Pfizer plans to make an unprecedented move to sell Lipitor [Atorvastatin] directly to patients as a way to hold onto its medication after losing its patent at the end of November (WSJ)
From the Doctor's Desk: Generic Drugs
  Generic drugs usually provide savings with no difference in therapeutic effectiveness
Healthy Heart Habits May Also Guard Against Cancer
  Good cholesterol, blood pressure levels and more appear to reduce tumor risk, study finds
Women Marathon Runners Have Less Artery Plaque: Study
  Prior research had found male marathoners have more plaque than other men
Women More Prone to 'Broken Heart' Syndrome: Study
  Associated with emotional stress, clinical condition mimics a heart attack
Does Psoriasis Thwart the Benefits of 'Good' Cholesterol?
  Chronic skin condition may be associated with changes in HDL composition, researchers say
Patches, Counseling, Persistence Can Help Smokers Quit
  'Keep working at it' could be key to success, studies suggest
Low Vitamin D May Increase Stroke, Heart Attack Risk in Women
  Vitamin has anti-inflammatory effects on the arteries, researchers note
Got High Blood Pressure? Kiwi Fruit May Help
  Small study found three a day lowered levels more than eating an apple a day
Stem Cells Show Promise in Healing Damaged Hearts
  Most promising study comes more than two years after heart failure patient at Cedars Sinai Heart Institute became the first in the world to have stem cells from his own body reinfused into his heart
Stem cells help regenerate damaged heart
  Watch and read about the first person ever to receive an infusion of heart stem cells at the Cedars Sinai Heart Institute and how well he is doing 2 years later.
Sugar-Sweetened Drinks May Pose Heart Risks to Women, Study Suggests
  Problems can emerge even if no weight gain is evident, researcher says
Regular Teeth Cleanings Could Cut Heart Attack Risk: Study
  Dental office visits protect the heart by curbing growth of harmful bacteria, researchers say
Heart Patients Using Vitamins May Take Meds Improperly
  Many unaware that dietary supplements reduce effectiveness of warfarin, study shows
Xarelto Approved to Prevent Stroke in People With Abnormal Heartbeat
  Atrial fibrillation affects more than 2 million Americans
'Mini-Strokes' Linked to Earlier Deaths
  The risk is highest among older people and those with a history of heart problems
What is atrial fibrillation?
  Learn more about the most common arrhythmia and how to treat it.
Sepsis Plus Heart Rhythm Disorder Linked to Stroke, Death
  Hospital patients with severe blood infections and new atrial fibrillation found at higher risk
Blood Thinner Xarelto Shows Promise for Heart Patients
  Study found it cut odds of death and heart attack in those with "acute coronary syndrome", but bleeding risk needs monitoring
Runners Can Relax About Holiday Feasting: Study
  Choosing meat over fruit tends to boost waist size, but risk may be lower for high-mileage runners
Too Few Doctors Screen Young Athletes for Hidden Heart Trouble
  Study of Washington state physicians, high school officials shows not enough are asking the right questions
New Guidelines Issued for Genetic Heart Disease
  Experts outline recommendations for treating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Are You at Increased Risk of Heart Attack or Stroke?
  Find out about the latest technology available at our office to look for hidden plaque which helps assess your risk of heart attack or stroke
Insurance and Billing FAQ's
  Also, learn why we believe our policies allow us to maintain our high level of personalized patient care.
Meet Dr. Caren
  Get to know the man behind the camera.
Meet Dr. Urman
  Learn more about the founder and medical editor of our patient newsletter
Office News
  Recent news about our doctors and office.
Newsletter Archive
  In case you have missed our previous newsletters
The news stories provided in this e-newsletter are a service of the nationally syndicated HealthDay news and information company. Stories refer to national trends and breaking health news, and are not necessarily indicative of or always supported by the physicians in our practice. This information is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please see our full Terms of Use for more information.

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