Taking statin drugs and also exercising may reduce the risk of early death up to 70%, a new study finds. That finding comes from a study of 10,000 veterans. All had high LDL ("bad cholesterol") and received care at a U.S. veterans' hospital. Nearly all of them were men. Everyone took a treadmill test to assess fitness. Researchers looked at people's medical records and kept track of people for 10 years. Those who took statins were 35% less likely to die during the study than people who did not take these drugs. Statins reduce LDL and inflammation. Death rates were 70% lower for people who had the highest fitness level and also took statins than for those who did neither. The fittest people had 60% lower death rates even if they did not take statins. These drugs include Lipitor (atorvastatin), Lescol (fluvastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin), Crestor (rosuvastatin) and Zocor (simvastatin). The jo urnal Lancet published the study online. HealthDay News wrote about it November 27.
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