Page 64 - Harnett Life Spring 2021

failed to show benefits and both the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) and American Diabetes Association
discourage com bining niacin and fenofibrates with statins.

Some turn to dietary supplement fish oil to help manage 1. Statins reduce your chance of experiencing a CV event by up
to 90%.
CV risk. However, supplements contain only 30% of the False. Statins, diet and exercise can lower your risk by about
omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) 25-35%, but for many patients, controlled cholesterol doesn’t
with the majority of the product consisting of non-omega-3 eliminate CV risk. This residual risk, or “persistent CV risk,” puts
ingredients, including saturated fats. Some data suggests millions of patients at risk and has been the focus of therapeutic
certain ingredients in dietary supplement fish oils, such as development for many years.
DHA and saturated fats, may raise bad cholesterol. 2. Managing high triglycerides along with taking statins is
While high triglycerides are an indicator of CV risk, low- enough to reduce your risk.
ering them won’t necessarily reduce your risk. However, False. High triglycerides are a CV risk factor but lowering them
addressing the underlying causes of high triglycerides can won’t necessarily reduce your risk. For example, earlier generation
help, according to the AHA. medicines prescribed to lower triglycerides, like fenofibrates and
niacin, failed to show clinical benefit when used with statins to reduce
CV risk. In fact, the FDA withdrew approval for fenofibrates and
Treatment Options niacin in combination with statins because they add potential risk with
With ongoing research, new standards-of-care are emerging. no proven benefit to heart health.
High cholesterol is a key CV risk factor with statins 3. Fish oil supplements are a proven way to get protection from a
currently the first-line therapy for lowering cholesterol. CV event.
Statins, diet and exercise can lower your CV risk by about False. Fish oil supplements are not FDA-approved medicines
25-35%, but, for many people, controlled cholesterol intended to treat or prevent a medical condition. Despite multiple
doesn’t eliminate CV risk. This residual risk, or “persistent clinical studies, these products have not been proven, to reduce CV
risk on top of current medical therapies including statins.
CV risk,” puts millions of patients at risk and has been the
focus of therapeutic development for many years. 4. Having a first CV event, such as a heart attack or stroke, puts
you at greater risk to suffer another.
True. Having a CV event makes you more likely to suffer another.
Talk with your doctor about FDA-approved options that That’s why it’s important to protect against a first CV event or
can help further reduce your heart risk if you already take future events. To closely monitor your heart health, stay in close
statins. contact with your doctor and reduce your risk by keeping up with
your medications, exercising and sticking to a healthy diet.
For more information about CVD and what you can do, look
for #RethinkCVRisk on social media or visit truetoyourheart.
com.

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