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Statin Use Could Double Under New Heart Healthy Recommendations

DETROIT (WWJ) - New advice from two of America's biggest heart health organizations on avoiding the country's biggest killer.

The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association Tuesday released four sets of guidelines to help doctors and patients recognize, and prevent heart disease and stroke reports WWJ Newsradio 950 Health Reporter Sean Lee.

The new lifestyle recommendations call for eating a heart-healthy diet and being physically active.

Specifically, that means limiting trans and saturated fats, reducing sodium and engaging in moderate physical activity for 40 minutes three to four times a week.

Also, new clinical guidelines designed to help doctors recognize four groups of patients who'd benefit from statin therapy to control high cholesterol, potentially doubling the number of people on them.

The third set of recommendations deal with helping doctors treat overweight and obese patients, recognizing the condition as a disease.

And finally, there are new guidelines helping primary care doctors assess heart disease risk in patients most at risk for it.

Find out more about the new guidelines  - HERE.

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