Heart disease is a serious health issue all over the world. In the United States, it is the leading cause of death, with one person dying every 34 seconds.
This is based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
To help prevent heart attacks and strokes, doctors often prescribe a type of medication called statins. These drugs lower the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood and are commonly recommended for people at high risk of heart disease.
But a new study has found something surprising: many people, more than 20%, say no to taking statins, even though they are at high risk. Even more surprising, women are more likely than men to turn down these medications.
The study showed that women were 20% more likely than men to reject statins when their doctor first suggested them. They were also 50% more likely never to accept the recommendation at all. As a result, people who refused the medicine ended up with higher cholesterol levels and possibly a greater risk of heart disease.
The study was done by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which is part of the Mass General Brigham health care system. The findings were published in the medical journal JAMA Network Open.
Dr. Alex Turchin, one of the researchers, said it is important to understand why patients are saying no. He believes doctors should take the time to talk with patients about their concerns and preferences. That way, the care they give can be more focused on each patient’s needs.
The study looked at more than 24,000 people who were considered high-risk because they had conditions like diabetes, very high cholesterol, or had suffered a stroke. Doctors recommended statins to all of them. Still, about one-third of these patients never even tried the medicine.
Those who said no to statins took three times longer to lower their cholesterol to safer levels compared to those who started the medication right away.
One of the biggest questions from this study is: why are women more likely to refuse statins? The researchers believe that many women may not realize that heart disease is just as big a problem for them as it is for men. They hope to study this more in future research.
Dr. Turchin is now studying what happens to people who refuse statins—such as whether they are more likely to have heart attacks, strokes, or even die earlier. He also said people often don’t realize how much modern medicine, including medications, has helped improve and extend people’s lives.
So, if your doctor suggests taking statins, it’s worth having a conversation about it. Understanding how the medicine works and how it might help you could make a big difference in your heart health.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about a new cause of heart rhythm disorders and eating just one cup of nitrate-rich vegetables daily can reduce heart disease risk.
For more about heart health, please read studies about blood thinners that may not prevent stroke in people with heartbeat problems and this diabetes drug may protect heart health in older veterans.
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