World heart day
Today is World Heart Day
World Heart Day takes place on 29 September each year:
Together with its members, the World Heart Federation spreads the news that at least 80% of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided if the main risk factors, tobacco, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, are controlled.
National activities such as public talks and screenings, walks and runs, concerts or sporting events are organized worldwide by members and partners of the World Heart Federation.
Cardiologist and blogger HOTM reminds us it is also Mooncake Festival day so I hope you are not taking mooncakes with double egg yolk!
HOTM also makes interesting remarks about a polypill for preventing heart disease
Drs Wald and Law, had done many meta-analysis on clinical data from research papers of drug combinations and their reduction in CV disease. In their landmark BMJ 2003 paper, they highlighted ( from their meta-analysis ) that if all of us were to take a polypill, consisting of 6 drugs at half doses ( the 6 drugs are a statin, 3 anti-hypertensives, aspirin and folic acid ), we will reduce cardiovascular disease by 88% and strokes by 80%. We have a side effect risk of 8-15%. They advocate that all males above 55 years should take this, without any need for clinicians advice.
I guess more data is needed but in future we could be popping these polypills.