Don’t stop medicine without consultation
People are being urged not to stop taking their medicine for reducing heart attacks and strokes without talking to their doctor first, particularly those aged 45 years or over.
People are being urged not to stop taking their medicine for reducing heart attacks and strokes without talking to their doctor first, particularly those aged 45 years or over.
Cardiovascular disease remains Australia’s biggest killer and by 2050 it is predicted that one in four people will be affected.
A person’s risk of cardiovascular disease is based ondifferent factors, including age, gender, cholesterol and blood pressure levels, lifestyle factors and other medical conditions.
Dr Lynn Weekes, NPS MedicineWise chief executive, said: “If you have been prescribed a statin to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack or stroke, it is important that you keep taking your medicine as directed.”
NPS MedicineWise is an independent, evidencebased and notfor profit organisation which provides practical tools and information about medicines, health conditions and medical tests.
There is strong evidence from several independent reviews of clinical trials that statins are effective in reducing the chance of having a heart attack or a stroke, particularly for people with cardiovascular disease and those who have already had a heart attack or stroke.
Statins top the list of the 10 most commonly prescribed subsidised medicines in Australia.As well as lowering cholesterol, they reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke for people at risk.
Statins have also been shown to reduce the chance of having a first heart attack or stroke in people who don’t have cardiovascular disease but are at high risk of developing it.
“Your doctor will assess your risk factors including blood pressure, cholesterol levels, body mass index (BMI), family history, smoking and physical activity,”says Dr Weekes.
“This assessment can help you and your doctor to identify the steps you need to take to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.”
Find out more about statins.
