Big Pharma forcing doctors to mass drug populations with poisonous Statins
The Unhived Mind
18 July 2014 Last updated at 00:42
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-28352290
Statins: Millions more to get drugs in controversial plans
By James Gallagher Health editor, BBC News website
Doctors have been told to offer cholesterol-lowering statins to millions more people in a massive and controversial expansion in prescribing.
Four in 10 adults in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are now eligible for statins, even though many are at low risk of a heart attack or stroke.
The medicines regulator, NICE, says it will save lives.
There has been vocal opposition to the plans, and doctors’ leaders said they had no confidence in the decision.
But all sides of the debate say people who are already taking statins should continue to take their medication.
Major issue
Cardiovascular disease – which includes heart attacks and strokes – is the UK’s biggest killer.
It claims 180,000 lives a year and is behind one in three deaths.
Statins reduce the build-up of fatty-plaques that lead to blockages in blood vessels.
Cross section of an artery Fatty deposits narrow arteries, storing up problems for the future
They are already given to high-risk patients who have a one in five chance of a heart attack in the next decade.
Medicines regulator the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is now telling doctors to give statins to low-risk patients with a one in 10 chance of a heart attack in the next decade if measures to improve lifestyle fail.
Effectively every healthy man over 60 – or woman over 65 – could be offered statins.
Those with high cholesterol, smokers, the obese or with a strong family history of heart problems could be offered the drugs at an even younger age.
NICE said it had conducted the “best and most complete review of evidence in this field” and concluded that giving the drugs to low-risk patients would have benefits.
There are greater benefits for people taking statins if they have already had a heart attack.
About 13 million people are currently suitable for statins, although only seven million choose to have them prescribed.
The NHS estimates the drugs save 21,000 lives over three years.
Changing the guidelines is estimated to make 4.5 million more people suitable for statins, although only half are likely to choose to be prescribed them.
NICE believes the measure will save up to 4,000 lives – as well as preventing 8,000 strokes and 14,000 non-fatal heart attacks – over three years.
Prof Mark Baker, the director of the centre for clinical practice at NICE, told the BBC: “Prevention is better than cure.
“One of the mainstays of modern medicine is to use treatments to prevent bad things happening in the future, it’s why we use vaccines and immunisation to prevent infectious disease, it’s why we drugs to lower blood pressure to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and kidneys disease and it’s why we’re using statins now.”
Opposition
However, the guidelines have opened a schism in the medical profession.
There is a continuing argument about side-effects with NICE arguing there are barely any while other doctors say it is a massive problem.
There have been accusations, denied by NICE, of people drawing up the guidance being influenced by the pharmaceutical industry, wider arguments about “medicalising” a nation and encouraging patients to take pills rather than change their unhealthy lifestyle.
The British Medical Association’s General Practitioner’s committee said: “There is insufficient evidence of significant overall benefit to low-risk individuals to allow GPs to have confidence in the recommendation.”
It said the measure would “distort health spending priorities and disadvantage other patients”.
It would cost £52m to give statins to all 4.5 million people who became eligible. But due to the falling costs of the drugs, the statins bill for the NHS would still be lower than in 2012.
Statin use and cost in England
The guidelines immediately come into place in England, devolved institutions in Northern Ireland and Wales need to sign-off the guidelines separately, but have historically followed NICE rulings. There are no plans in Scotland.
The 10% risk threshold is comparable to other European countries.
‘Lifestyle focus’
Prof Peter Weissberg, the medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “Doctors will now be able to offer a statin to people at a lower risk, but their prescription is not mandated.
“Just as important is the emphasis on trying lifestyle changes before considering treatments with drugs.”
The president of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Prof Sir John Tooke, said: “Whether or not someone takes drugs to diminish their risk is a matter of personal choice, but it must be informed by accurate information on the balance of risk and benefit in their particular case.
“The weight of evidence suggests statins are effective, affordable and have an acceptable risk-benefit profile.”
theunhivedmind says:
This is one way to increase the level of dementia in the population and nice excuse for future assisted dying when the problem sets in. This is nothing more than poisoning the mass public using dangeorus drugs known to cause serious side-effects and long-term illness. Make sure you study the side-effects of these poisons and research how the cholesterol data is a farce.
-= The Unhived Mind
http://theunhivedmind.com/wordpress3/dementia-will-double-within-twenty-years-in-northern-ireland/
Dementia will double within twenty years in Northern Ireland
14 May 2013 Last updated at 06:41
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-22516958
Dementia ‘to double in 20 years’
The number of people in Northern Ireland with dementia is expected to double in the next 20 years.
About 19,000 people are currently living with the condition, but that figure is expected to rise dramatically as people live longer.
Dr Peter Passmore, professor of ageing and geriatric medicine at Queen’s University Belfast, said it was an incurable disease.
But he said that people must begin to address it.
“Dementia is an evil, wicked and incurable disease,” he said.
“It is a disorder of the brain that causes brain failure. At the moment, it isn’t treatable and is one of the most costly diseases we have to deal with.”
Figures for last year show that dementia cost the UK health service around £23bn. That is nearly as much as cancer, stroke and heart disease combined.
Dr Passmore said that because more people were living longer that cost would rise considerably unless something is done about it now.
“I think the first thing to do from a family perspective is to try and broach the subject very carefully,” he said.
“The individual may have already realised, but a tactful approach from others, especially family, should be the first port of call.
“People do admit there is a problem and agree to treatment – that’s the philosophy of a majority of people who attend my clinic at the Belfast City Hospital. ”
Dementia is an umbrella term used to refer to a collection of symptoms that can result from a number of different diseases of the brain. Those symptoms include a decline in memory, reasoning and communication skills and a gradual inability to carry out everyday activities.
There are many different types of dementia but they all affect the way the brain works and therefore have a massive impact on the quality of a person’s life.
Dr Passmore said dementia is a complex condition that is often difficult to diagnose.
“The most obvious thing is that the brain can shrink a little – the other changes can only be detected under a microscope.
“With Alzheimer’s, it is lots of proteins that clump together to form what we call plaques – these aren’t normal. Then, within those cells, there is a series of tangles that have to do with the way the energy and cells move around. When they don’t move about normally, it affects how a person thinks and how quickly they react.”
There is growing momentum among experts that there must be greater awareness of the condition and that the public should be armed with more information.
The director of the Dementia Services Development Centre in Scotland, Professor June Andrews, said that while figures are an estimate, the number of those who have the condition is likely to double and people need to be prepared.
“The most important thing is information – knowing how to keep yourself well; knowing when to go to the doctor; knowing what changes to make to your home; knowing where to seek help,” she said.
“All of these things help prevention and that keeps people out of care which is a good thing.”
Her research at the University of Stirling looks at how people can make their homes more adaptable. In most cases, this increases the time they can enjoy living independently.
“Simple things can make a huge difference to someone with dementia – like more light in a home, having things colour co-ordinated or by using pictures.
“Having glass-fronted units so people can see items clearly and quickly cuts down on the confusion and sense of frustration.
Prof Andrews Prof June Andrews said information was key to dealing with dementia
“There is no reason why people have to stop using a kitchen – it just needs to be better planned. For instance you can get cookers with cut-out mechanisms.
“Also, entice people with dementia to eat by installing a glass fronted fridge which is organised and clear, with food prepared.”
Professor Andrews said the cost of design changes to the home compared to that of placing someone in residential care is massive and should be explored.
“It all adds up. First there is the cost to families and, through social care services, at home. Then there is the huge cost of hospital and care home care.
“With the numbers increasing, we need to do dementia care better, and the best way is to give people the information they need to look after themselves and avoid the common problems,” she said.
theunhivedmind says:
What does one expect from all the metal poisoning going on today with the Stratospheric Aerosol Geoengineering controlled by the U.S Air Force through the Open Skies Treaty? Poisonous aluminium is sprayed daily over our heads as we breath in this poison known to be a massive contributor to dementia. Look at all the chemicals which destroy kidney functioning and these all contribute to dementia since the brain is mastered by the kidneys. May I also remind you of another major poison to the kidneys and brain, this is statin drugs which are handed out today like m&m candy.
-= The Unhived Mind