‹ Blog Archive | Monday, Mar 28, 2011
Overprescribed and Questionably Effective Drugs: What You Need To Know Posted by Isaac Eliaz of Amitabha Medical Clinic & Healing Center
Cardiovascular disease is a growing epidemic in this country. Estimated
costs of treating heart disease in the United States will increase by
approximately 545 billion dollars over the next two decades.
Large pharmaceutical companies continue to push dangerous and
minimally-effective statin drugs – a class of drug used to lower cholesterol
levels – on the U.S. population, and a growing body of evidence shows that
statin drugs are overprescribed, questionably effective, and can cause serious
side effects. However, the American Heart Association continues to heavily
promote statins as universal heart attack prevention. They have even publicly
raised the question of whether statins should be added to the U.S. water
supplies along with fluoride.
Today, millions of Americans are using statin drugs for
controlling high cholesterol and preventing heart attacks. These conditions,
however, are often managed effectively with natural cardiovascular supplements
and lifestyle changes, without dangerous side effects. For more information,
read my report on overcoming cardiovascular disease here: www.cardiobalance.org.
Now under guidance from the FDA, millions more Americans are being
encouraged to take cholesterol medication, even if they do not have heart
problems or elevated cholesterol levels. Given the proven varied and dangerous
side effects of statins, this decision is not the right approach for reducing heart
attack risk or even guaranteeing the cardiovascular health of those who do have
elevated cholesterol. (www.cardiobalance.org).
In 2008, a study came out titled Justification for the Use of
Statins in Prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin (JUPITER).
This study found that, among 17,800 subjects followed over the course of the
two-year placebo-controlled trial, patients taking statins to treat
inflammation benefited from a 54 percent lower risk of heart attack and a 48
percent lower risk of stroke when compared to patients who simply lowered their
cholesterol alone.
When John Hopkins University investigated these findings with
another study, they came out with very different results which suggested that
statin drugs only offered minimal decreased risk of heart attack, and only in
patients who had significant arterial calcium deposits, not elevated
cholesterol. They are not the only research institute that has disputed the use
of statins as more stories emerge regarding the flawed nature of Big Pharma’s
studies on these drugs. Now, the public may be waking up to the dangerous truth
about statins.
Several major studies have found that, among statin drugs’ other
widely reported side effects—including muscle pain, memory loss, and liver
damage—these medications also raise your diabetes risk by as much as 13
percent.
To make matters worse, the FDA acknowledges the influence of
statins on diabetes risk—but have approved its use for heart attack prevention
anyway, based on the results of the studies. Needless to say, this development
does not bode well for the health of our country. It is a well known fact that
even simple lifestyle changes—such as a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and
omega-3s, daily physical activity, and adequate sleep and hydration—can go a
long way toward reducing inflammation and restoring health and balance to your
body. Antioxidant-rich botanicals also play a critical role in integrative
protocols designed to combat heart disease due to their proven ability to
quench free radicals and counteract chronic inflammation. For comprehensive
information about preventing cardiovascular disease using safe and natural
alternatives, download a complimentary wellness guide on the subject by
visiting www.dreliaz.org/heart-disease-report. Click Here for Provider's Detail Page
Other Postings by Isaac Eliaz:
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