Tag: Cardiovascular disease

Despite their proven benefits in reducing cardiovascular events, approximately 50% of patients discontinue statin therapy within one year of starting. Understanding why do some people choose not to take statins involves exploring a range of factors including side effects, personal beliefs, and misinformation.

While often a benign and asymptomatic condition, a tortuous aorta is frequently associated with hypertension, a key factor addressed through medication. The primary goal of medical management is to control blood pressure and reduce stress on the aortic wall, not to reverse the tortuosity itself. In mild cases, these interventions are often sufficient to prevent complications.

A 2024 meta-analysis found aspirin therapy for primary prevention was associated with a 47% increased risk of major bleeding compared to no aspirin. Understanding **when should aspirin be stopped for primary prevention** is therefore crucial for mitigating these significant risks, especially in light of evolving medical guidelines.

According to a study involving patients treated with coronary stenting, those who received statin therapy had a significantly lower one-year mortality rate compared to those who did not. This powerful statistic highlights why understanding the duration of medication, specifically addressing 'how long do you take atorvastatin after stents?', is critical for long-term cardiovascular health.

Recent studies have identified a sharp increase in stroke hospitalizations linked to infective endocarditis from intravenous opioid misuse. This evidence, alongside other cardiovascular findings, confirms the serious question: **Do opioids increase the risk of stroke?**

According to the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, aspirin use before angioplasty is a Class I recommendation. The vast majority of patients scheduled for a diagnostic coronary angiogram should not stop aspirin before the procedure and, in many cases, are instructed to take their regular dose on the morning of the procedure.

According to the European Medicines Agency, SonoVue is contraindicated in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension, right-to-left shunts, and uncontrolled systemic hypertension. Knowing what are the contraindications for SonoVue is crucial for ensuring patient safety before receiving this ultrasound contrast agent, as its use is restricted in certain serious medical conditions.

Millions of people worldwide take low-dose aspirin for its cardiovascular benefits, but its role in actively reducing arterial inflammation is a more complex topic. While its primary and most well-known effect is preventing blood clots, aspirin's anti-inflammatory properties also play a significant role in mitigating the progression of diseases like atherosclerosis.

In the United States, approximately 92 million adults reported taking statins in 2018–2019 [1.7.2]. A common question among them is, 'Can you get off statins once you start?' While possible for some, it's a decision that requires careful medical guidance.

The average lifespan is increasing globally, and with it comes a growing older population facing cardiovascular disease risk. For this demographic, a key question for patients and clinicians is, "At what age is statin no longer beneficial?" The answer is not a simple number, but rather a nuanced assessment that depends on whether the medication is used for primary or secondary prevention and the patient's overall health.