(NAPSA)—The conventional wisdom on treating women with heart disease may be about to change. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death and disability in the Western world, affecting men and women in equal numbers. Despite the availability of a range of therapies, the number of people affected by heart disease continues to grow. A new study, called AIM-HIGH, is lookingat a different way to approach heart attack and heart disease prevention in both women and men. Researchers now know that managing heart disease takes more than simply lowering “bad” cholesterol—the traditional approach. Additional strategies, such as raising “good” cholesterol, exercising daily and sticking to a good diet, are all keys to heart health and important to discuss with your doctor. The AIM-HIGH study, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, is measuring how combining two cholesterol medications to both raise good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol at the same time can reduce the risk of heart disease. As heart disease risk is more difficult to detect in women and African Americans, these groups are of special interest to the doctors conducting the study. In fact, heart disease goes undiagnosed in Speak With Your Doctor About AIM-HIGH You must be atleast 45 yearsold e You must have history of heart disease Bad cholesterol levels below 180 mg/dL Triglycerides from 100-400mg/dL e Ifyou are a man, HDLless than or equal to 40 mg/dL e Ifyou are a woman, HDL less than or equal fo 50 mg/dL @ tually cause heart disease. Good cholesterol serves the opposite function, acting as a “street sweeper” and helping prevent plaque buildup and heartdisease. For a healthy heart, the American Heart Association (AHA) rec- disease prevention study is designed to shed light on the mechanics of reducing heart disease risk, especially for women ommends keeping bad cholesterol levels below 100 mg/dL in people with existing heart disease or diabetes and, for women, keeping good cholesterol levels above 50 mg/dL. The AIM-HIGH study provides patients with access to two FDAapproved therapies to manage both good and bad cholesterol levels. The trial will look at how taking two proven therapies—Niaspan (once-daily extended-release niacin) and Zocor (simvastatin )— together may further reduce the risk of heart disease compared to taking Zocor alone. “This program provides needed access to care and medications that improve both good and bad cholesterol to determine how much their combined treatment adds to the prevention of As the terms “good” and “bad” suggest, these two types of cholesterol work in very different ways. Bad cholesterol can build up plaque on artery walls and even- Dr. Greg Brown of the University of Washington. For more information on the study, visit www.aimhigh-heart. com orcall (888) 315-2948. as many as 3 million American females. The AIM-HIGH heart and minorities. heart disease and stroke,” said
