How is the Development of Fighting Heart Disease So Far?

During the last weekend of March 2009, heart specialists around the world gathered and met in Orlando, Florida for the 58th annual convention of the American College of Cardiology.

In the convention, these heart disease experts discussed major developments in fighting heart disease. The results of 31 clinical trials, which were divided into 6 sessions, were learned. Meanwhile, issues surrounding health care reform were also examined by a panel of economists and cardiologists.

In one session, the experts examined the results from the famous Jupiter trial, which were released during the late 2008. The trial revealed that Crestor, the world’s most popular anti-cholesterol medicine could actually lower the risk of heart disease by 44 percent.

In studying nearly 20,000 men and women aged 50 and above, the Jupiter trial found that controlled use of Crestor could reduce the combined risk of arterial revascularization, stroke and death from cardiovascular causes among patients who currently do not have a high risk of developing heart disease.

What interests the panels of experts is whether the results could be applied to millions of people without a high risk of cardiovascular disease but with elevated levels of C-reactive protein, which is a sign of artery inflammation.

There were 3 cardiologists who presented their analysis after examining on the data from Jupiter trial. Such trial is indeed an important one with so much data. In the meantime, the results of a survey of the organization’s 28,000 members on the Jupiter trial’s significance were also presented at the convention.

Another session looked at the results of the so-called STICH trial. This was a study carried out in 15 countries with an aim to determining what treatment or combinations of treatments works best for heart failure. Statistics does show that heart failure affects some 5 million Americans, mostly because of heart attack, hypertension (high blood pressure) or diabetes. The main purpose of the STICH trial was to assess the effectiveness of early surgery, as compared with other medical treatments, and then later surgical treatment if necessary.

The implications of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall study, which investigated the build-up of coronary artery calcium and the impact of Omega-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular disease, were discussed.

Is Supplement A Must For Us?

Do we need supplement when we reach the age of 40?

I am sure many of us must have hovered around the decision whether we should take supplement to boost our health, especially when peers around us have started their intakes.

Perhaps I can share with you about the advice I have from a friend who is a doctor. He told me that for a healthy adult, a well-balanced diet is sufficient to provide the necessary dietary requirements, regardless of age. This does not mean that we cannot take supplements because supplements can be useful if taken appropriately.

However, you should do some home works to find out the nature and benefit of supplement you intend to take. He further cited some common examples to illustrate his arguments. For example, research has shown that gingko biloba can improve mental function and memory while ginseng is useful in alleviating fatigue. Omega-3 fish oil may be effective in reducing one's risk of getting heart disease. When one has osteoarthritis, a condition caused by wearing of joint cartilage after many years of exertion and movement, he or she might consider taking glucosamine sulphate. Saw palmetto may be useful for improving symptoms of mild benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).

One important thing to note is that people should never treat supplements as a substitute for a healthy diet. In order to have proper nutrition, one should also include other important components, such as fiber and essential fatty acids.

It is evident that some supplements may interact with other medications or may affect existing medical conditions. Therefore, it is essential for people who are taking medications to first check with their doctors or pharmacist to ascertain which supplements are suitable for them.