Daily Dish for 8/26 Drugs and Supplements for a Healthy Heart

[Denise85]

Drugs and Supplements for a Healthy Heart

Diet and exercise alone can't always ensure cardiac health. Here's a look at the latest medications and supplements recommended by Dr. Agatston:

Statin drugs: In the late 1980s, a new class of cholesterol-lowering drugs known as the statins (medications such as Mevacor, Pravachol, Lescol, Zocor, and Lipitor) became available. With these, it was possible to cut cholesterol quite easily and dramatically, 20 to 30 percent initially, and up to 50 percent now. The medication isn't cheap (annual cost is somewhere around $3,000), but the results are worth it.
Aspirin: Taking an aspirin every day thins the blood slightly and helps prevent heart attack and strokes in those at risk. It's so common and inexpensive that some people forget that aspirin is an important part of any heart-healthy regimen.
Vitamins: For years there's been talk about how antioxidant vitamins (A, C, and E) help prevent heart attack, stroke, and cancer. Recently, though, multiple studies have failed to support these hopes with science. Dr. Agatston's advice is to boost your body's supply of antioxidants by exercising and eating fruits and vegetables, which are rich in nutrients. He also recommends a single, daily multivitamin.
Fish-oil supplement: Just as Dr. Agatston advises people to eat plenty of fish high in beneficial omega-3 oils (such as salmon and tuna), he suggests fish-oil supplements in capsule form. They lower triglycerides and make the blood cells less sticky. They've also been found to prevent sudden death due to cardiac arrhythmia-the sudden, potentially fatal stoppage of the normal heartbeat.
Testosterone gel: Studies indicate that men who have heart attacks are often found to have lower-than-normal testosterone levels. Diabetic men, too, tend to show low testosterone. Replacement of this hormone, when deficient, increases muscle and bone mass and decreases central obesity. Dr. Agatston tests for it in all male patients and prescribes a testosterone gel (which is rubbed on the skin) for those whose levels are low.

[JCLowcarb]

Aspirin: Taking an aspirin every day thins the blood slightly and helps prevent heart attack and strokes in those at risk. It's so common and inexpensive that some people forget that aspirin is an important part of any heart-healthy regimen.
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I take the Bayer Womens Aspirin plus Calcium. It is only 81mg. 300mg of calcium in that pill. I also take the fish oil and the Flaxseed oils and prenatal vitamins, even though I am not pregnant nor plan on it. Thank you for that informative article.

Janet