Can’t take statins? New pill cuts cholesterol, heart attacks

Category: Health

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. cardiovascular / ˌkɑr di oʊˈvæs kyə lər / (adj.) – relating to the heart and its veins
    Example:

    To avoid cardiovascular diseases, the doctor advised eating healthy food.


  2. cornerstone / ˈkɔr nərˌstoʊn / (n.) – something that is very significant or important
    Example:

    These policies are the cornerstone of this company. Without them, things will not be organized.


  3. clog / klɒg / (v.) – to block or limit the movement of something
    Example:

    Food waste will clog the pipes in the kitchen sink.


  4. mainstay / ˈmeɪnˌsteɪ / (n.) – the most important part of something
    Example:

    Rice is a mainstay of Asian cuisine.


  5. pricey / ˈpraɪ si / (adj.) – relating to something that has a high cost or price
    Example:

    New medical treatments are pricey.


Article

Read the text below.

Drugs known as statins are the first-choice treatment for high cholesterol but millions of people who can’t or won’t take those pills because of side effects may have another option.


In a major study, a different kind of cholesterol-lowering drug named Nexletol reduced the risk of heart attacks and some other cardiovascular problems in people who can’t tolerate statins, researchers reported.


Doctors already prescribe the drug, known chemically as bempedoic acid, to be used together with a statin to help certain high-risk patients further lower their cholesterol. The new study tested Nexletol without the statin combination — and offers the first evidence that it also reduces the risk of cholesterol-caused health problems.


Statins remain “the cornerstone of cholesterol-lowering therapies,” stressed Dr. Steven Nissen of the Cleveland Clinic, who led the study.


But people who can’t take those proven pills “are very needy patients, they’re extremely difficult to treat,” he said. This option “will have a huge impact on public health.”


Too much so-called LDL or “bad” cholesterol can clog arteries and lead to heart attacks and strokes. Statin pills like Lipitor and Crestor – or their cheap generic equivalents – are the mainstay for lowering LDL cholesterol and preventing heart disease or treating those who already have it. They work by blocking some of the liver’s cholesterol production.


But some people suffer serious muscle pain from statins. While it’s not clear exactly how often that occurs, by some estimates 10% of people who’d otherwise qualify for the pills can’t or won’t take them. They have limited options, including pricey cholesterol-lowering shots and another kind of pill sold as Zetia.


Nexletol also blocks cholesterol production in the liver but in a different way than statins and without that muscle side effect. 


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Statins are the mainstay for lowering bad cholesterol and preventing and treating heart disease. But some people suffer serious muscle pain from it. Do you think it’s okay to still prescribe this medicine to people despite its side effects? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Would you consider using alternative medicine (ex. herbal, home remedies) over conventional or Western medicine? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Cardiovascular disease remains the world’s leading cause of death. Why do you think this is so? Discuss.
  • What do you think are the effective ways to prevent cardiovascular diseases? Discuss.