A Potential Reduction Of Heart Disease Risk May Be Around The Corner

As our society advances, our lifespan is slowly increasing. New technology allows for findings on how to extend lifespan. We are slowly finding cures to diseases that used to be deadly.

Heart disease and Type 2 diabetes are extremely common in the US. 9.6% of the US population has some form of diabetes in their lifetime and about 1 in every 4 people die from heart disease. These diseases can be deadly with no possible cure but we have now found a way to potentially reduce this risk.

I recently examined New York Times article “Fish Oil Drug May Reduce Heart Attack and Stroke Risk for Some” by Anahad O’Connor which was about large doses of an omega 3 fatty acid in fish oil proving to sharply reduce the rate of cardiovascular events in people with a history of heart disease or Type 2 diabetes

A new trial focused on a different group of those with a history of cardiovascular events, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. This group had unusually high levels of triglycerides, which make up natural fats and oils in the body. However, having a high level of triglycerides can be dangerous and increase risk for heart diseases.

A treatment known as Reduce-IT worked on those with high triglyceride levels and there was a 25% reduction in their relative risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiac events.

Many people who are aware of their risk for heart disease or type 2 diabetes as it runs in the family, takes fish oil. Fish oil has been popular to protect against heart disease because of its high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and its blood thinning effects. There is a history of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes in my family, therefore I must be cautious about how to possibly prevent this risk.

Reduce-IT provides hope for many patients and families who have an extremely high risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. The idea of a potential solution to this deadly case is groundbreaking. Many of my family members have passed due to heart disease and this what seems simple solution may be able to prevent more.

With new treatments such as this one, our medical society is slowly discovering more and more about the diseases that many people face. As our technology advances, so do we.