By: Joe Graedon July 15, 2024 13 Comments
    Why Haven’t Statins Stopped Heart Disease?

    Statins are the most prescribed drugs in America. Atorvastatin (Lipitor) alone is taken by nearly 30 million people. If you add simvastatin, rosuvastatin, pravastatin and lovastatin, you get more than…

    By: Joe Graedon July 7, 2024 12 Comments
    Low LDL Cholesterol Linked to Bleeding Strokes

    Ask any golfer if you can have too low a golf score and he will think you're nuts. After all, the lowest score wins in golf. Ask almost any cardiologist if you can have too low LDL cholesterol levels …

    By: Joe Graedon September 23, 2019 15 Comments
    Is There an Antidote for Xarelto or Eliquis Blee…

    It used to be that if someone were taking an anticoagulant to prevent blood clots there wasn’t much that could be done if the patient began bleeding badly. That is probably why Johnson & Johnson…

    By: Joe Graedon October 1, 2018 20 Comments
    Can You Stop Aspirin Suddenly Without Risking a …

    A major controversy in medicine has to do with the value of aspirin. This inexpensive drug has been available for more than 100 years. It remains a gold-standard pain reliever and fever reducer. No ot…

    By: Joe Graedon January 8, 2015 636 Comments
    New Eliquis (Apixaban) Alert: Unexpected Side Ef…

    A few years ago we received alerts about an increasing number of serious bleeding episodes associated with the anticoagulant Eliquis (Apixaban). This medication is prescribed to prevent blood clots in…

    By: Joe Graedon October 1, 2014 29 Comments
    Can Cholesterol Go Too Low?

    Goldilocks didn't know beans about cholesterol, but she was an expert on porridge--not too hot, not too cold. We wish cardiologists were more willing to follow her example. Everybody knows that when c…

    By: Terry Graedon February 20, 2014 3 Comments
    Does Vitamin C Help Protect Against Bleeding Str…

    A small case control study from France suggests that people with adequate levels of vitamin C circulating in their systems are less prone to hemorrhagic strokes. These bleeding strokes are less common…

    By: Terry Graedon June 27, 2013 2 Comments
    Caffeine in Pills Linked to Stroke

    Drinking coffee has been associated with health benefits such as a reduced likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, heart failure, Alzheimer's disease or certain cancers. But caffeine in medications …

    By: Joe Graedon February 1, 2012 6 Comments
    Can Low Cholesterol Cause Stroke?

    Q. I take simvastatin, and I am concerned that my cholesterol may be too low (143, HDL 46, LDL 75). My mother died at age 64 from a massive stroke. Somewhere I read that very low cholesterol increases…