Dear Dr. Roach: I was looking for long -term studies on statins focused on the health of women. There seems to be information but not with regard to women. Can you suggest a reliable source of information? – HN
Answer: There remains a controversy in the scientific community on the benefit of statins in women. Women have been studied less than men, and because women have fewer heart disease than men of the same age, it was more difficult to prove an advantage in women.
However, in my opinion, the data is now clear that women run an increased risk of heart disease benefit from a stature. A very in -depth study by researchers from the University of Oxford and the University of Sydney examined 27 clinical trials which included nearly 50,000 women. He has shown that although women are at a lower absolute risk of heart disease than men of the same age, women have obtained the same reduction in heart risk as men do when they compare men and women to same risk level.
The researchers also considered that although there are damage to statins (such as muscle pain and an increase in blood sugar), the benefits are considerably prevailing on risks when drugs are appropriately granted to women at risk higher. Links to study and additional resources on heart disease in women are published on my page on Facebook.com/keithroachmd.
Dear Dr. Roach: My 89 -year -old husband has received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. He does not take any medication. He is in excellent health with the exception of Alzheimer’s. Its blood pressure is 123/69 mm Hg and its pulse is 53 BPM.
Her geriatric doctor said “no” to prescription drugs to help slow the disease. The doctor said his pulse was low and that drugs tend to further reduce the pulse, which can be dangerous. His Alzheimer’s scene is 4-5, and his mmse score was 5 out of 30. Are there any advice that you can give me? – MW
Answer: I’m sorry that your husband has moderate to severe (AD) Alzheimer’s disease. In stage 5 of the global deterioration scale (a scale commonly used for the severity of advertising), a person cannot live safely without assistance. The mmse score of 5 suggests that its announcement can be even more serious than it seems. Many people with dementia are very good at managing despite advanced dementia, but a new or stressful situation can often be disastrous.
Unfortunately, treatments at this stage are of a limited advantage. The usual first -line treatment, which are inhibitors of cholinesterase (such as donepland or rivastigmine), has the possibility of slowing the heart rate at dangerous levels, as its geriatrician said. An alternative could be memantine, which is generally given with a cholinesterase inhibitor in people with my serious as that of your husband. Even in itself, it could always have an advantage in slowing down the progression of dementia.
The new drug injection drugs are indicated for people with light dementia that have proven to have amyloid accumulation in their brain, either by an evaluation of their vertebral liquid, or by a special TEP scintigraphy. These drugs would not be prescribed to a person with dementia as serious as that of your husband.
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to respond to individual letters, but will incorporate them into the column as far as possible. Readers can send questions by email to Toyourgoodhealth@med.cornell.edu or send mail to 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803.
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