The following is a transcript of a report by medical editor Marilyn Brooks that first aired Oct. 30, 2007, on WTAE Channel 4 Action News at 5 p.m.

---

An industry report claims heart disease patients are getting younger.

Medco Health Solutions said more young adults are now using cholesterol drugs and blood pressure drugs than ever.

Experts said there are a couple of reasons young people are using these medications, including obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

But doctors are much more aggressive these days in preventing heart attacks and stroke.

Not long ago, a heart attack nearly took Laura Younger's life.

"When I stood up to leave the room, that's when I collapsed, and my heart stopped," she said.

Paramedics got her heart beating again, and Younger got smart about diet and exercise.

New data show many young adults could benefit from her example.

According to Medco, between 2001 and 2006, the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs jumped 68 percent among its 20- to 44-year-old customers. The rates rose from 2.5 percent to more than 4 percent, or roughly 4.2 million Medco customers.

Blood pressure drugs increased in that age group from 7 percent to 21 percent in the same time period, totaling roughly 8.5 million.

Medco said they believe the epidemic of obesity and overweight young people is the reason more are using cholesterol and blood pressure medication.

Meanwhile, heart disease prevention experts are happy young adults are asking for the medications before they have a heart attack or stroke.

However, they said they should first work to increase their exercise, get a better diet and lose weight.

It's better to take action before you need medications. But experts said once patients start taking medications, they usually stay on them.

---

Related Links:
More County News

Get RSS | E-Mail Alerts

---