Younger People Using Cholesterol and BP Drugs

Posted by: Curt | Under: 40's/fit, 50's/fit, Diet and Weight Loss, General Fitness, Health, Ladies/fit, Prime/fit, Seniors/fit | (0) Comments

Some doctors are very happy about new stats that show lots more people in the 20-40 age group taking cholesterol and blood pressure drugs but others are alarmed because it probably is a result of the obesity epidemic and the very unhealthy lifestyles that most Americans live. Kind of like a band-aid on skin cancer… Lets face it, if you need these drugs when you are in your 20’s and 30’s, your life expectancy is not going to be very good- although probably better than if you don’t take them and don’t change your lifestyle. There are obviously those who need these drugs due to genetic inherited problems, but the huge rise in this age group suggests something else is going on.

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The new data, from prescription benefit manager Medco Health Solutions Inc., indicate use of cholesterol-lowering drugs among people aged 20 to 44, while still low, jumped 68 percent over a six-year period.

The rate rose from 2.5 percent in 2001 to just over 4 percent in 2006 among Medco customers. That means roughly 4.2 million Americans in that age group are now taking cholesterol medicines.

Meanwhile, use of blood pressure medicines increased 21 percent, from about 7 percent of 20- to 44-year-olds in 2001 to over 8 percent in 2006. That translates into about 8.5 million Americans in that age group taking drugs to lower their blood pressure.

“It was a surprise to us,” said Dr. Robert Epstein, chief medical officer at Franklin Lakes, N.J.-based Medco. “Maybe the fact that we’re seeing more young people with high cholesterol and blood pressure is indicative of the epidemic of obesity and overweight that we’re seeing in this country.”

…He and Epstein both said patients with problems should first work with their doctors on lifestyle changes — more exercise, a better diet and weight loss. But Weintraub said many people need medication to achieve and maintain the ever-lower levels of blood pressure and cholesterol that experts now recommend.

However, Dr. John LaRosa, president of SUNY Downstate Medical Center, said, “particularly for young people, lifestyle change is worth a try.”

Once patients start taking these medicines, they usually stay with them and there are some side effects, LaRosa said.

“It’s amazing what (losing) five or 10 pounds will do” to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels, he said.

 You can read the rest over at MSNBC.