The "Polypill" combines multiple heart medications to drastically reduce heart disease
Why
A cheap five-in-one pill can guard against heart attacks and stroke, research suggests. The concept of a polypill for everyone over 55 to cut heart disease by up to 80% was mooted over five years ago, but slow progress has been made since. Now a trial in India shows such a pill has the desired effects and is safe and well-tolerated by those who take it. Although The Lancet study is proof of concept, experts still question the ethics of a pill for lifestyle issues. Critics say the problems of high blood pressure and cholesterol should be tackled with diet and exercise rather than by popping a pill. The polypill used in the latest study combines five active pharmacological ingredients widely available separately - aspirin, a statin to lower cholesterol and three blood pressure-lowering drugs - as well as folic acid. Trials on 2,053 healthy individuals free of cardiovascular disease, but with a risk factor such as high blood pressure or a long-term smoker, showed combining the drugs into one tablet delivered a similar effect to each drug separately. Reductions were seen in both blood pressure and cholesterol without any major side effects.
Search Terms:
polypill, polypill trial, poly pill, polly pill, cadila pharmaceuticals, polycap
References:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7971456.stm,http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/03/31/Polypill_combines_heart_medications/UPI-41661238476126/,http://www.naturalnews.com/025963.html,http://www.naturalnews.com/025963.html,http://www.theheart.org/article/953881.do,http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3808176
