September is National Cholesterol Education Month, an annual observance aimed at raising awareness about the importance of managing cholesterol levels. The month is dedicated to educating the public about the heart disease risks associated with high cholesterol and the steps individuals can take to help maintain healthy levels.   It’s the perfect time to meet the animated characters called the “Lipid Lurkers”—a visual representation of an often-unnoticed risk lurking in patients’ artery walls. While they may look small and silly, they represent a very real and dangerous health threat. Fat and cholesterol are types of lipids transported through the blood. Certain types of lipids, particularly LDL-C or “bad” cholesterol, can lead to buildup of plaque in the arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease or stroke.   This campaign was created to help educate and empower the nearly 100 million U.S. adults with high LDL-C—especially those who can’t take statins (medications to lower cholesterol) or who have uncontrolled cholesterol and haven’t reached their target levels despite treatment.   Now, there are solutions that offer an alternative to statins— additional options for lowering LDL cholesterol—while also lowering the risk of heart attacks and heart procedures like stent placement or bypass surgery    On Wednesday, September 10, LeAnne Bloedon, MS, RD, Vice President, Clinical Development at Esperion Therapeutics, will be available to discuss the havoc that too much bad cholesterol can cause inside artery walls—and how to lower your cholesterol.   She’ll also outline:   What high LDL cholesterol really does to your body (and why it’s often silent) Why managing cholesterol matters before your first cardiovascular event How the “Lipid Lurkers” campaign is making heart health more accessible, relatable, and even fun Who’s at risk—and what new options are available beyond traditional statins https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/esperions-lipid-lurkers-campaign-sheds-light-high-ldl-cholesterol-hiding-artery-walls

#septembercholesterol #cholesterol

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Social media is flooded with advertisements for popular obesity medications. But how do adults with obesity looking to lose weight avoid online scams selling knockoff versions that may not be safe and effective?

With the FDA’s recent decision to prohibit mass compounding of some obesity medications, there may be even more confusion about consumers’ options.

Here now to talk about what it means for patients and solutions to access authentic medicines are Dr. Clare Lee and Rhonda Pacheco from Eli Lilly and Company.

#clarelee #rhondapacheco #obesitymedication #weightloss #fda

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Do you forget things easily?

Do you get derailed from a task easily or distracted by sounds and noises?

What about your IQ?

When my now 24-year-old son was just 9, a doctor thought he had ADHD, and I came this close to putting him on a stimulant. Even though I declined the medicine, I used natural fish oils high in DHA. He turned out to be naturally brilliant without any of those prescribed stimulants.

I’m not trying to alarm you about medications, but you should be informed so you can choose the best option for your loved ones. DHA fish oils are known to support a healthy brain and attention span in all people, young and old.

Studies have involved children and teenagers who had low levels of DHA and they, not surprisingly, had poor reading scores as well as behavioral problems. Could these children benefit from omega 3 supplementation? Low DHA in children aged 7 through 9 were associated with reading and comprehension that was below average, as well as behavioral issues. Why aren’t physicians considering DHA supplementation as a first-line treatment? Probably because the pharmaceutical sales people aren’t hyping those up.

Some studies point to DHA supplementation as a method of increasing overall intelligence as you get older. Can you imagine?! They based this finding on kids between the ages of 3 and 5 years old who had received omega 3 fat supplements as infants. Those kids outscored children who were in the placebo group who did not get the omega fats. By “outscored” I mean they had better results across the board on bot vocabulary and intelligence tests.

Omega-3 fatty acids seem to boost and balance your brain function. Basically, I’m saying we’re all fatheads and need good fats for our brain which consists of lipophilic cells.

About 60 percent or slightly more brain material is comprised of fat. Of the total fat, DHA makes up approximately 20 percent of your brain’s cerebral cortex. That’s the part of your brain that helps you think, learn a language, correctly perceive things, reason and comprehend. It is involved in voluntary movement so when you think I need to pick up that pen, your arm automatically does that for you, compliments of your cerebral cortex.

DHA plays an undeniable role for your cerebral cortex and your nerves. It’s found in unusually high levels in your neurons (the cells of your brain and spinal cord). That’s why patients with a TBI (traumatic brain injury) are told to take omega 3 fatty acids that are high in DHA content.

When you combine DHA fish oil with vitamin D or the calming mineral magnesium, the result can be even more astonishing, especially if you have other signs of cognitive decline such as memory loss, senior moments and problems making decisions.

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Clinical Pharmacist talks about ways seniors with cognitive disabilities can avoid medication errors

Seniors who take multiple medications are seven times more likely to require hospitalization because of an adverse drug event, say experts at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the ASHP Research and Education Foundation. During National Patient Safety Awareness Week (March 3-19), the pharmacist groups want the public to know that pharmacists are crucial resources for managing medications correctly and avoiding problems, and they are sharing important tips that can help family caregivers protect their elderly loved ones from dangerous medication errors.

The risk of a medication error increases when cognitive disabilities, such as dementia, are involved. The Alzheimer’s Foundation estimates that as many as 5.1 million Americans may have Alzheimer’s disease and that about a half million Americans younger than age 65 have some form of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, more than 65 million people (29 percent of the U.S. population) provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend during any given year. Fifteen million Americans provide unpaid care for a person with Alzheimer’s or other dementias.

“These patients are at greater risk for having medication safety problems at home after hospital discharge,” says Dr. Allison Paquin, a clinical pharmacist at VA Boston Healthcare System in Massachusetts, who works regularly with older patients with cognitive difficulties. “They often have more complex medication regimens and a decreased ability to follow those regimens. It is important for caregivers to know how to help them use their medicines safely.”

Dr. Paquin and a multidisciplinary team at VA Boston Healthcare System were responsible for an initiative that helped seniors with cognitive disabilities manage their medications, greatly reducing the rate of hospital readmissions and emergency department visits. This initiative, The PILL Service, earned the VA Boston Healthcare System the ASHP Foundation’s 2012 Award for Excellence in Medication-Use Safety. The award is sponsored by a grant from the Cardinal Health Foundation.

This interview is sponsored by the ASHP Foundation and ASHP.

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