BEIJING, March 13 (Chinese medianet) -- Overeating and smoking among European heart patients reduce the effect of drugseven as theytake more medication than ever before to lower their blood pressure and cholesterol levels, says a new study.
Theyinterviewed more than 8,500 patients in eight countries. Patients were on average about 60 years old, and had a history of heart problems.
The experts found that more young patients are smoking, and more patients are fatter and diabetic compared with similar groups12 years ago.
"In terms of the lifestyles of patients with coronary disease, everything is moving in the wrong direction," said Dr. David Wood, one of the paper's authors and a professor of cardiovascular medicine at Imperial College in London.
Researchers also found that the numbers of patients taking drugs to lower their cholesterol was seven times higher in 2006-2007 than in 1995-1996. About 43 percent of patients still had high cholesterol.
And while more people now take medications to lower their blood pressure, Wood said that hadn't made any difference. "The response of physicians is just to give more and more drugs, but what we need is a comprehensive lifestyle program."
Experts said trends were similar in the United States.
(Agencies)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment