Health Buzz: Crestor's Effect on Blood Clots and Other Health News
Study: Crestor Reduced Risk of Blood Clots in Veins
The statin Crestor may help cut the risk of blood clots in the veins, suggests a new study, which was presented Sunday during the American College of Cardiology's annual meeting. The study, which involved more than 17,000 relatively healthy participants, saw 94 cases of venous thromboembolism, or blood clots in patients' veins. Thirty-four of those cases occurred in people taking Crestor, while 60 took place in those taking a placebo, resulting in a 43 percent relative risk reduction for those taking the cholesterol-lowering medication. This reduction was observed in people with and without blood-clot risk factors such as hospitalization, surgery, or cancer, HealthDay reports. "We're very pleased that the drug seems to have this beneficial effect," study author Robert J. Glynn, a biostatistician at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, told HealthDay. This reduction in risk for blood clots would probably be seen with other statins, too, he added. The study is based on data from the JUPITER clinical trial, which is sponsored by AstraZeneca, the drug maker that markets Crestor.
In November, U.S. News's Bernadine Healy explored whether, based on earlier JUPITER findings, statins should be prescribed for many apparently healthy people. Also, consider these 6 statin-free ways to reduce inflammation.
Bioidentical Hormones: Safer for Hot Flashes Than HRT?
To take hormones or not to take them? That question plagues women suffering from menopausal symptoms—like hot flashes and night sweats and the severe sleep deprivation and crankiness that come with them, Deborah Kotz reports. Some women still opt for traditional hormone therapy, like Prempro, which combines estrogen and progesterone. (The latter hormone is included in order to protect women against endometrial cancer, which can be triggered by using estrogen alone.) Other women have turned to what they believe to be a safer alternative: bioidentical hormones. These compounds are identical in molecular structure to the sex hormones produced in a woman's ovaries.
Here's a user's guide to bioidentical hormones. And learn why actress Suzanne Somers loves bioidentical hormones.
How to Get a Cheap Workout: 8 Ideas for Building a $100 Home Gym
If you're unable—or simply unwilling—to pay a thousand dollars a year or more for a high-end gym membership, never fear. You don't need to be cashed up to get a good workout. In fact, you don't need to join a gym at all. U.S. News's Katherine Hobson asked four fitness pros for 8 tips for putting together a home gym for $100 or less. Among the advice she got: Start by looking at what you already own, and don't buy anything you're sure not to use.
For more on saving money on your fitness routine, try these 5 ways your workout can weather the recession. Also, find out how you can spend less time exercising.
—January W. Payne
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