Increase Your Risk of Heart Disease With Lipitor and Pravachol

Results of a new study comparing the effectiveness of Pfizer Inc.,'s Lipitor with Pravachol, made by Bristol-Myers Squibb, was recently published in the New York Times. The study details the clinical observation that Lipitor was significantly more effective than Pravachol in lowering patient's LDL cholesterol levels. However, the study did not comment on the overall effect that Statin drugs have on patient health, or the research that indicates Statins may actually increase your risk of heart disease and heart attack.

Statin drugs have been proven effective in the reduction of LDL cholesterol in most patients. However, the bio-chemical reactions that the drugs use to decease cholesterol also inhibit the production of an important nutrient that is essential for good heart health; specifically CoQ10.

Lipitor and Pravachol work by inhibiting the body's ability to make an enzyme called HMG-CoA. This enzyme is the precursor to two compounds, cholesterol and CoQ10. Because the intent of Statin drugs is to inhibit cholesterol production, this method of suppression is very effective in reducing cholesterol levels. However, by suppressing the manufacture of HMG-CoA, and subsequently CoQ10, the body actually becomes more susceptible to heart attack, angina, congestive heart failure, and many other pulmonary-related diseases.

CoQ10 is found in every cell in the body and is necessary for proper energy utilization, resistance to disease, and cardiac health. The compound is so necessary that it's chemical name is actually ubiquinone, because of its ubiquitous presence in the body. By suppressing the mechanism that makes CoQ10, Statin drugs such as Lipitor and Pravachol put patients at significant risk of heart disease, as well as reduce overall resistance to cancer and other diseases.

CoQ10 is used by the heart and other muscles to facilitate contraction as blood is pumped through the body. If the body's source of CoQ10, is lowered, either through Statin drugs or environmental factors, the hearts ability to contract is greatly diminished. This subsequently results in significant cardiac complications; including angina, heart disease, cardiac arrhythmia and heart attack.

In addition to its contribution to proper heart function, CoQ10 is also a significant ant-oxidant. When our ability to product CoQ10 is reduced, our body's immunity to cancer, pollution and disease can be greatly diminished. This has been documented in a number of studies where CoQ10 levels have been measured in people with specific cancers, degenerative diseases, or HIV.

The relation between HMG-CoA, cholesterol, and CoQ10 has been well documented and is freely available. Subsequently, the solution to reduced CoQ10 levels has been made extremely simple. The solution is simply dietary supplementation with CoQ10 if you are taking a Statin drug. Much of the diminished CoQ10 supply can be made up through dietary supplementation. In fact, CoQ10 supplements can be purchased in the supplement section of your local health food store.

CoQ10 is essential to proper heart health and resistance to disease. Statin drugs such as Lipitor and Pravachol inhibit the body's ability to product CoQ10. If not addressed, this can increase a patient's risk of heart disease and other cardiac conditions. However, supplementation of CoQ10 by the use of a dietary supplement can balance the effects of Statin drugs and ensure that the patient's risk of overall heart disease does not increase while his/her cholesterol levels decrease. If you are currently taking a Statin drug to reduce your cholesterol, talk to your doctor about supplementation with CoQ10 to ensure your continued good health.

About The Author

Barrett Niehus is a principal for IP Ware software http://www.freetrainer.com as well as a technical specialist for Compound Solutions, http:///www.compoundsolutions.com in Escondido, California.

Boston Globe
Medicine wins when doctors say no
Boston Globe, United States - 6 hours ago
Hardly a day goes by without yet another story about the evil influence of Big Pharma on medicine. Last month, Governor Deval Patrick signed legislation ...
Life sciences paychecks growing, survey finds Boston Globe
all 2 news articles

High-Tech Vet Medicine Saving Lives of Pets and People
MarketWatch - 2 hours ago
This work has a side benefit; it's improving medicine for people, too. Pet owners are demanding increasingly advanced care for their pets to treat diseases ...
Obesity just as dangerous for pets as for humans Vancouver Sun
all 5 news articles

At the cutting edge of medicine, survival
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA - 4 hours ago
A: Because [the job] combined the things that I love, which is being on the cutting edge of medicine, working with people who are committed and are ...

Member of PGA Sports Medicine Staff Offers Insight into Cutting ...
PR Web (press release), WA - 3 hours ago
Dr. David Levinson, member of the PGA sports medicine staff, just returned from the Deutsche Bank Championship tournament where he treated golf's greatest ...

BBC News
RGU study boost for alternative medicine
Aberdeen Press and Journal, UK - 4 hours ago
By Stephen Christie MORE than a third of patients with long-term fatigue conditions believe complementary and alternative medicines are more effective than ...
Alternative medicines 'effective' The Press Association
Hospitals blamed for fitting patients with vein tubes irrespective ... Thaindian.com
ME Sufferers Rely on Alternative Medicines ITNews
BBC Newsall 14 news articles

Names in the news
Baltimore Sun, United States - 3 hours ago
•The Greater Baltimore Medical Center has named Dr. Robin Motter-Mast, a Cock-eysville physician, chairwoman of the Department of Family Medicine. ...

Sydney Morning Herald
Exercise, a Natural Medicine!
HealthNewsDigest.com, NY - 18 hours ago
In fact, "Exercise is Medicine" is the trademark for a recently founded National Initiative started by The American Heart Association and The American ...
KU research adds to evidence that exercise can help damaged brains Kansas City Star
Health Digest Annapolis Capital
The cruellest loss The National
EmpowHer - The Santa Barbara Independentall 449 news articles

Natural Medicine: Probiotics -- The "good" bacteria
Seattle Post Intelligencer - 16 hours ago
The human digestive tract is home to billions of bacteria, and many are essential for normal digestion. Probiotics are one of the friendly bacteria that ...

Viet Nam News
Doctor brings first class medicine home
Viet Nam News, Vietnam - 2 hours ago
As the first Mong doctor in the mountainous province of Yen Bai, Vang A Sang has brought top quality medicine to the region. Do Doan Hoang reports. ...

CT scans can be better medicine for doctors than for patients
Los Angeles Times, CA - Sep 7, 2008
A controversial study published last November in the New England Journal of Medicine estimated that CT scans administered today could cause up to 2% of ...

Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

Melatonin, Sleep Enhancement, and ADHD