It sounds crazy to say it, but some people are fortunate enough to know they’ve heart disease and are in a position to pay better attention to the care they take of themselves.
The normal level of cholesterol in the blood stream in UK residents is presently 5.6 millimoles per litre of blood. The government aim to get this average down to five with a programme of education and health care, brought about by research. A group of drugs called statins are taken by four million people annually in England and Wales to reduce cholesterol levels and thus reduce the risk of stroke or heart attack and this number is expected to grow by 1.5 million if something isn’t done soon.
These statins have been prescribed quite freely in the past but GP’s are under utmost pressure to cut drugs bills. It’s essential that proper evaluation is carried out on the patient and that the right statin is prescribed. (more…)
