We’re talking about cholesterol and high blood pressure meds used by people between the ages of 20 and 44 years old. For cholesterol meds, the rate rose from 2.5 percent in 2001 to slightly more than 4 percent in 2006, which translated into a 68 percent jump. And for blood pressure drugs, the rate rose to 8 percent, a 21 percent increase, according to a new analysis by Medco Health Solutions, the big pharmacy benefits manager. And the usage appears to be growing at a faster pace than among older Americans.
Why? Well, experts point to higher rates of obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol problems among young people, the Associated Press reports. Also, docs are getting more aggressive with preventive treatments. “This is good news, that more people in this age range are taking these medicines,” said Dan Jones, president of the American Heart Association, tells the AP.
Still, he says many more people should be on the drugs that lower cholesterol or blood pressure and which have been shown to reduce risks for heart attack and stroke. In other words, cholesterol pills will become life-long companions to much of the population. Imagine a college graduation ceremony - for a gift, a newly minted grad is given a year’s supply, which may have real value if the next generation of pills is as expensive as Lipitor.
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