Heart disease is one of the biggest health problems in the world, and in the United States, it is the number one cause of death.
Every 34 seconds, someone in the U.S. dies from a heart-related issue.
To lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes, doctors often prescribe a type of medicine called statins. These drugs help reduce the level of “bad” cholesterol—known as LDL—in the blood.
Statins are proven to be helpful, but a new study has found that many people who are at high risk of heart disease still refuse to take them. This choice could increase their chance of having a heart attack or stroke.
The study was done by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which is part of the Mass General Brigham health system. They looked at the medical records of over 24,000 people who had a high risk of heart disease.
These patients had health problems such as diabetes, very high cholesterol, or past strokes—all of which increase the risk of heart problems. Even though doctors recommended statins to every one of these patients, more than 20% of them said no.
The study also found that women were more likely than men to refuse statins. Women were 20% more likely to turn down the medication at first and 50% more likely to refuse it completely.
Researchers are not exactly sure why, but they think one reason might be that many women mistakenly believe heart disease mainly affects men. In reality, heart disease is just as dangerous for women as it is for men.
This refusal to take statins can lead to delays in reaching safe cholesterol levels. The study showed that people who refused statins at first took three times longer to lower their cholesterol to a safe level than those who started the medicine right away. This delay could lead to a higher risk of serious heart problems.
Dr. Alex Turchin, one of the researchers, said it is important to understand why people choose not to take statins. He believes that doctors should talk more openly with patients about their concerns. By listening and explaining things clearly, doctors may be able to help more patients accept treatments that could save their lives.
The study highlights a big challenge in preventing heart disease: even when effective treatments are available, some people don’t take them because of fears or misunderstandings. This choice can have real and harmful effects on health.
Researchers now want to study how refusing statins affects the chances of having heart attacks or strokes. This will help them better understand just how important these medicines are for people at risk.
While statins are important, other research shows that lifestyle changes also matter for heart health. Eating well, staying active, and using the right supplements may also help.
For example, eating eggs may reduce the risk of heart disease, though some herbal supplements could cause heart rhythm problems. Exercise is also powerful—a study found that exercising regularly for one year in middle age can even reverse early signs of heart failure.
This research shows how important it is to have honest conversations about heart health and treatment options. With better communication, doctors can help people make informed decisions and possibly live longer, healthier lives.
If you care about heart disease, please read studies that herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm, and how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies that apple juice could benefit your heart health, and results showing yogurt may help lower the death risks in heart disease.
