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London (PA Media/dpa) – Most side-effects linked to statins are not caused by the drugs, a new study suggests. After a comprehensive review of side-effects linked to the cholesterol-busting drugs, academics from the University of Oxford have called for patient information leaflets to be updated. Statins are some of the most commonly prescribed drugs, with millions around the world people taking them to lower bad cholesterol levels, in turn cutting their chance of heart attack and stroke. But experts said there is “ongoing confusion and concern” about side-effects linked to the drugs, as they highlighted how millions more people who could benefit from the drugs are not taking them. After the new review, academics said that for “most people, the risk of side-effects is greatly outweighed by the benefits of statins”. The new study, published in The Lancet, looked at data from 123,940 people who took part in 19 clinical trials comparing the effects of statins to a placebo, also known as a dummy drug. These people were followed up for an average of 4.5 years after initiating treatment. Researchers found that there was no significant excess risk with statins for almost all of the conditions listed in the package leaflets as potential side-effects. This includes no increased risk in memory loss; depression; sleep problems; erectile dysfunction; weight gain nausea; fatigue or headache. Lead author of the paper, Christina Reith, associate professor at Oxford Population Health, said: “What we were able to show reliably was that statins did not make these commonly experienced events occur more often. “So for example, the percentage of people suffering memory loss per year was similar to those taking statin therapy as those not, equally. “The percentage of people suffering sleep problems per year was similar to those taking statin therapy as for those not. “This means that we now have really good evidence that although these things may well happen to people while they take statins, that statins are not the cause of these problems.” She added: “Our study provides reassurance that, for most people, the risk of side-effects is greatly outweighed by the benefits of statins. “What we hope to see happen is that statin drug labels are revised alongside related information to enable doctors and patients to make better informed decisions going forward.” Previous work has identified a 1% increase in muscle symptoms among people taking statins, usually in the first year of treatment. And statins can lead to a small increase in blood sugar levels, meaning that some people at high risk of diabetes may develop the condition sooner. On top of these known side-effects, researchers found that only four of 66 “undesirable outcomes” previously linked to statins were actually associated with the drug. This included a small increased risk of around 0.1% of abnormal liver blood tests. But there was no increased risk of serious liver disease, they said. They also found an increased risk in swollen legs, ankles and feet, also known as oedema, and changes to urine. Researchers also examined data on 30,724 people taking part in four trials comparing more intensive versus less intensive statin therapy. This part of the study only identified a small risk of abnormal liver blood tests, with no increased urinary risks or odds of oedema. Professor Sir Rory Collins, emeritus professor of medicine and epidemiology at Oxford Population Health and senior author of the paper, added: “Now that we know that statins do not cause the majority of side-effects listed in package leaflets, statin information requires rapid revision to help patients and doctors make better-informed health decisions.” Professor Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, which part-funded the study, said: “The data would suggest that around about seven to eight million are currently taking statins (in the UK) – in England it’s around five million. “The prediction, based on the evidence and looking at the risk of the population, would be that at optimal treatment levels, it would be around 15 million. “So there’s probably a shortfall close to half – 50% of patients who would benefit from these extraordinary drugs are not receiving them for whatever reason.” He added: “Statins are life-saving drugs, which have been proven to protect against heart attacks and strokes. “This evidence is a much-needed counter to the misinformation around statins and should help prevent unnecessary deaths from cardiovascular disease.” Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, chair of the UK's Royal College of GPs, said: “Those considering taking statins should be reassured by this comprehensive study which shows that while statins, like any medication, have potential side-effects, the risk for most people is low.” The following information is not intended for publication pa dpa coh

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Yoga helps you care for your body – but how best to care for your yoga mat? Consider carefully as they can be damaged by the wrong cleaner. Start by checking what your mat is made from. Berlin (dpa) – Sweat and bare feet: Yoga mats often come into contact with these. And those who practise outdoors may also expose their mats to dirt and moisture. That's why the DIY Academy in Cologne recommends wiping the mat down after each session "with a mild cleaner or a damp cloth." Then leave the mat to dry completely in a well-ventilated room before rolling it up loosely and storing it horizontally in a dry place. Avoid direct sunlight on the mat, as this can cause the material to fade or deform. Which cleaner is suitable for which material? Cleaning agents can damage the mat in the long term – in the worst case, you will have to replace it. The best cleaning agent for your yoga mat depends on the material it is made of. Manufacturers often provide detailed information on this. Anyone who uses cleaning or care methods that contradict the instructions does so at their own risk, according to Bernd Glassl from the German Cosmetic, Toiletry, Perfumery and Detergent Association (IKW). It is therefore important to follow the manufacturer's instructions. But sometimes you may have misplaced the instruction leaflet or not kept the mat's packaging. Here is a rough overview of how to get your mat clean again:Polyethylene mats can be cleaned with all-purpose cleaner or hand dishwashing detergent – preferably diluted with water. For stubborn stains, use the concentrate, says Glassl. TPE stands for thermoplastic elastomers. Among other things, this material provides rubber with its elasticity. According to the DIY Academy, these mats are best maintained by cleaning them with warm soapy water and a soft brush. As the material is sensitive to abrasion, it is best not to use scouring pads. Mats made of PVC plastic are usually durable and inexpensive. According to the DIY Academy, they can also be cleaned with warm soapy water and a microfibre cloth. Their closed cell structure makes them water-repellent, which is good for outdoor use as they are less susceptible to dirt and moisture. However, the slightly oily feel can diminish with use and cleaning. And what about mats made of virgin wool, cotton and cork? Glassl advises using wool detergent for mats made of virgin wool. Always pay attention to the textile care symbol, for example the wash tub. The symbol provides information on whether hand or machine washing is appropriate, as well as the washing temperature and programme. You should also pay attention to the care symbol on cotton mats. An empty triangle means that chlorine and oxygen bleach are permitted. If there are two lines in the triangle, only oxygen bleach is permitted, such as heavy-duty detergent in powder, granule or tablet form, but no chlorine bleach. Cotton mats are usually machine washable at 30 degrees Celsius, the association says. Use natural detergents without fabric softener. The mats should not be put in the dryer. It is best to let them air dry – away from direct sunlight to protect the rubber coating. Glassl advises wiping cork mats with a damp cloth, perhaps using diluted cleaner for cork floors or diluted all-purpose cleaner. Consider that you can make two damp cloths by wetting one cloth and wringing it out as well as possible. Glassl suggests you place the well-wrung cloth on top of a dry cloth of the same size, then roll both cloths together and knead them firmly. The following information is not intended for publication dpa/tmn mod xxde mew arw

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Tel Aviv (dpa) – People are twice as likely to inherit their lifespan than was previously thought, according to a team of researchers led by scientists at the Weizmann Institute in Israel. The "genetic contribution" to how long a person lives is around 50%, the team found, following a trawl of health databases in Denmark and Sweden. Published in the journal Science, the results could “have far-reaching implications for ageing research and public health,” according to the Weizmann Institute, whose scientists teamed up with the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and Leiden University to conduct the research. For decades, many scientists believed the input of genes and ancestry to longevity to be anything from around 10% to perhaps 25% – underestimations arising from limited historic health and mortality data. "For many years, human lifespan was thought to be shaped almost entirely by non-genetic factors, which led to considerable skepticism about the role of genetics in aging and about the feasibility of identifying genetic determinants of longevity," said Weizimann's Ben Shenhar. Mortality due to war, infectious diseases, the effects of physical or unsafe work, accidents, poor diet, lack of medical care and other such "extrinsic" causes were not always easy to pick out in records. "Environmental forces, such as disease or living conditions, exert a powerful influence on how long someone lives and often obscure or confound potential genetic effects," said the American Association for the Advancement of Science/AAAS, the journal's publisher. Hereditary causes of death – for those who do not get killed first by extrinsic causes – mean "processes originating within the body, including genetic mutations, age-related diseases, and the decline of physiological function with age," the researchers said. "If heritability is high, as we have shown, this creates an incentive to search for gene variants that extend lifespan, in order to understand the biology of aging and, potentially, to address it therapeutically," said Shenar. Other recent research has pointed to a potential role for taurine, an amino acid, in slowing the aging process. Still other scientists have pointed to the 200-year lifespan of the bowhead whale, a longevity that has been put down to the Arctic giant having a protein in its cells that protects from carcinogenic mutations. The following information is not intended for publication dpa spr coh

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)