Categories: Need to know

Cardiologists: give out statins with fast food to reduce risk of heart disease

Study draws criticism from doctors skeptical of quick-fix pill

by macleans.ca on Thursday, August 12, 2010 2:36pm - 0 Comments

British cardiologists have proposed that fast food outlets like McDonalds and Burger King give diners free drugs to compensate for the increased risk of heart disease caused by eating their products, drawing criticism from other doctors. According to a study from Imperial College London, customers would offset the unhealthy effects of eating a cheeseburger and milkshake if burger joints offered cholesterol-lowering statins. The study suggests that statins be placed by the salt, pepper and ketchup in order to encourage as many people as possible to pop one after a meal. The idea immediately was criticized by many doctors, who said the study could encourage ill-health by prompting even greater consumption of junk food and increasing the belief in “a pill for every ill.” While statins are generally safe they can also increase the risk of muscle weakness and also, in rare cases, of kidney failure, cataracts and liver problems.

The Guardian

madeyoulook

The idea immediately was criticized by many doctors, who said the study could encourage ill-health by prompting even greater consumption of junk food and increasing the belief in “a pill for every ill.”

Like frat house parties (and high school nurses' offices) giving out condoms is a blatant endorsement of premarital sex.

Like airbags in vehicles (and, bonus, ones that trigger a friendly hello from an OnStar operator upon deployment) are begging us all to go ahead and drive drunk.

Like clean needles to all comers in East Vanc– uh, MYL, that one may be too touchy to complete…

true north

Uh oh….you almost went " there'' Didn't Ya huh ,,didn't ya ?? (lol)

Ariadne

And like Aspirin and many other drugs, they will find out later on that it has no benifits other than giving patients more illnesses worse than their original problems. More and more, Doctors are behaving like drug pushers instead of healers.
Leanne

What is so incredibly appalling about this display of idiocy by those British "physicians" is that studies of statin drugs have shown that they have benefits ONLY for those people who have already had heart attacks. In my opinion, this ill-considered advice constitutes malpractice.

Ariadne

They actually serve as spokesmen and lobbyists for pharmaceutical company that made this drug. Appalling abuse of people's trust and respect afforded their profession.

justmeint

Ladies and Gentlemen, allow us to announce a new facet of one stop shopping.

Gone are the days when a doctor will advise you to make life style changes to improve your health, instead you will be able to order your Lipitor with a side of Burger and Fries!

Talk about a new marketing ploy! Drug reps will now be spending time at your favourite fast food chains and take-away stores, pushing their ‘quick fix’ drugs to medically uneducated burger ‘flippers’ and salt shaker fillers.
http://just-me-in-t-health.blogspot.com/2010/08/o…
fuddle duddle

how about people try not eating deep fried garbage
Judge Roy Bean

This generation just HAS to have a perfect world, even if it kills them. Waaaay too much Walt Disney when they were children. I guess maturing is out of the question.
Doctor M

Well those British Doctors just might be appalled by the diet that has been imported from North America and realise that the massive increase in obesity and associated illnesses- heart disease, diabetes, stroke etc etc is as much from nasty food chains like the famed McDonalds and Burger King etc. As they say, if you can't beat them, join them!