In part one, we discussed the ABCs of heart disease prevention, with cholesterol control being one important aspect of a comprehensive prevention plan. We discussed recommendations for a healthy diet and exercise as foundations for controlling risk factors and preventing heart disease. Now, in part two, we’ll discuss the importance of teaming up with your health provider to develop an individualized approach to your treatment, and we’ll share suggestions about where to get reliable information so you can make the most informed decisions about your health. You learn about available preventive measures, you seek out medical advice and you finally decide what course of action to take.
[See: 6 Drugs That Can Worsen or Increase Risk for Heart Failure.]
Tailored Treatment Is the Best Fit
Are you already at high risk for heart disease? Are you worried it’s too late for you to do anything about it? Fear not! In addition to sticking to the lifestyle recommendations above, medications can help lower your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Let’s first reveal the nature of statins, which help balance cholesterol levels. After they were first discovered in the late 1970s and hit the market in 1987, their initial adoption was limited by concerns about everything from cataracts to cancer. Over time, strong evidence wiped away such concerns while continuing to build support for their ability to prevent heart attacks, strokes and early death. Now, there are evidence-based clinical guidelines that help identify patients who will benefit most from statins.
Guideline drafters around the globe agree that statins have a major role to play in reducing heart disease. For example, the 2013 American College of Cardiology-American Heart Association guidelines are based on high-quality, randomized controlled trial data and strongly support the use of statins in appropriate patients. Clinicians aren’t just dishing out statins; there’s a well-founded method behind prescribing them. So set aside some of the rumors you may have heard about statin overuse, and heed the nuanced balance that exists in the medical field to fit each individual.
The 2013 ACC-AHA guidelines identify types of people from 40 to 75 who would generally benefit from statin use, with the caveat that a clinician-patient discussion is essential in deciding whether a prescription is suitable. This means that the patient and his or her health care provider discuss the most suitable course of action, taking things like the individual’s heart disease risk, other medical conditions and personal preferences into consideration. Above age 75, the ACC-AHA guidelines don’t routinely recommended statins for heart disease prevention, unless the clinician and patient decide together that it’s appropriate.
Consistent with the ABCs model, these national guidelines emphasize lifestyle, address the multiple risk factors of heart disease (it’s not just about cholesterol), and evaluate both the benefits and potential adverse effects of statins. The 2013 ACC-AHA guidelines also indicate who wouldn’t benefit from statins. For more information on how to decide whether statins are safe or appropriate for you, please see this review in The Lancet.
[See: 17 Ways Heart Health Varies in Women and Men.]
The Power Is in Your Hands
If you haven’t done so lately, check in with your primary care provider or cardiologist about your heart disease risk and find out the most beneficial and fitting treatments for you, be it taking statins or other preventive measures.
Reading an article like this, you’re already considering teaming up with your health provider for your heart health. In preparing to speak with your doctor, you can also check out other reliable sources about heart health and heart disease information, such as the ACC/AHA Risk Estimator app, which can be found in the Apple and Android app stores. It has a section dedicated to patients and is something you can use with your provider during your visit.
Some patients come into the clinic with strong preferences, while others want to do whatever their provider recommends when it comes to decision-making. Still, some patients like a 50-50 approach between their own input and the doctor’s. What type of patient are you?
Either way, your treatment is your decision in the end. Your doctor may recommend a treatment because it’s proven to work. But you can do your own research, too, and use the sources we’ve provided to you. We’ve armed you with the proper tools for your battle against heart disease and your collaboration with your doctor. Now it’s your time to take action and keep your heart healthy!
[See: The Best Foods for Lowering Your Blood Pressure.]
Take-Home Messages:
— The ACC-AHA guidelines promote a healthy lifestyle and address multiple heart disease risk factors.
— Statins balance cholesterol levels, and evidence shows that they prevent heart attacks, strokes and death. Guidelines around the world agree that they’re effective, generally well-tolerated and an important part of preventive care.
— Your clinician may prescribe statins after a discussion with you to assess the pros and cons of statin treatment.
— You and your doctor can work together. At the end of the day, it’s your life, your body, your health and, thus, your responsibility to take action!
More from U.S. News
How to Avoid a Second Heart Attack
The 12 Best Heart-Healthy Diets
17 Ways Heart Health Varies in Women and Men
Patients and Clinicians Unite Part Two: Tailored Treatment Is the Best Fit originally appeared on usnews.com
