Statins Prescribed To Those Who Are At a Risk Of Developing A Heart Disease

In UK deaths due to heart disease is on the rise. Statistics show about 238000 people per year die due to heart problems.

Hence The National Council for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) had asked the health officials to treat patients suffering from heart disease with statins.

It is estimate that about 3 million people suffer from 20% risk o developing a heart problem in the next 10 years.

The National Health Service (NHS) has asked the officials to put them on statin therapy. Statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs, which prevent the formation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, deposition of this cholesterol on the arteries (atherosclerosis) and risk of clot formation.

Already about 2 million people are under the statin therapy and Professor David Barnett of the Nice committee has planned to make it available it to another 3.3 million people.

The five different statin brands available in UK are atorvastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin and simvastatin but only simvastatin, is available over the counter in pharmacies in a low 10mg dose.

The price of the drug is falling due to its growing demands. NHS is estimating the price to fall down to £9m.

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According to the new guidelines Nice has asked the doctors to check the risk of developing a heart disease in patients who are above 40 years old.

Hence by making these drugs widely available it can cut down the risk of heart attacks, strokes and heart operations.