AstraZeneca Encourages All Americans to Take Steps to Manage Their Cholesterol This National Cholesterol Education Month

WILMINGTON, Del., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) urges Americans to take important steps to manage their cholesterol during National Cholesterol Education Month in September. Based on current estimates, 102 million Americans aged 20 years or older have borderline high or high cholesterol.(i) Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including a low-fat diet and exercise, along with cholesterol medication if needed, can help lower levels of LDL or "bad" cholesterol.(ii,, iii, iv)

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"Maintaining a healthy diet, by knowing what foods to choose and what foods to lose, is one important way to manage your cholesterol, as elevated cholesterol is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (ii, v)," said registered dietician Carina Saez, RD, LD, CDE. "A few easy food substitutions, that won't sacrifice taste, can help make your meals healthier.(ii, vi)"

The following heart-healthy food options are based on guidelines from the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health:(ii, vi, vii,viii)

• Choose whole-grain foods, like brown rice and whole-wheat breads and pasta, instead of refined foods, like white pasta, chips, and baked goods. Whole-grain foods help keep you full with fewer calories.
• Choose leaner cuts of meat, like sirloin tip, pork loin, or skinless chicken breast. Lose high-fat cuts of meat, like ribs, hamburgers, and bacon, which are high in saturated fats.
• Choose low-fat dairy products, like yogurt and cheese, which are low in solid fat and provide important nutrients. Avoid whole-fat dairy items like  ice cream.
• Choose liquid oils, like olive oil, and lose solid fats, such as butter or shortening. Many vegetable oils are low in saturated fat.
• Choose colorful fruits and vegetables, which provide vitamins, fiber, and other important nutrients. Lose fruits and vegetables with added fat, sugar, salt, or sauces.

Regular exercise is another important component of lowering cholesterol. Thirty minutes of cardiovascular activity per day can help reduce your cholesterol. Remember to always speak to your doctor before starting an exercise program.(ix)

The key for all Americans, according to Waenard L. Miller, MD, FACC, and cofounder of the Legacy Heart Center in Plano, Texas, is forming a heart health partnership with their physician. "The patient-doctor partnership is one of the most critical relationships you can have, and National Cholesterol Education Month can be a reminder to see your doctor, talk about your cholesterol numbers and target goal, and understand how to assess your cardiovascular risk," says Dr. Miller.

Patients at increased risk for cardiovascular disease should consult with their doctor to set a treatment plan to lower their cholesterol to goal, or if a treatment plan has already been established, work with their doctor to determine if their cholesterol management plan is helping them reach their goals.  For some patients, a healthy diet and exercise may not be enough to achieve their target cholesterol goal.(iii)

"When diet and exercise alone are not enough, a physician may recommend adding a cholesterol-lowering medication such as CRESTOR® (rosuvastatin calcium) to help lower high cholesterol. CRESTOR effectively lowers LDL-C (bad cholesterol), raises HDL-C (good cholesterol), and is also indicated to slow the progression of atherosclerosis (the buildup of plaque in the arteries over time) in adult patients as part of a treatment plan to lower cholesterol to goal(x)," says Dr. Miller. "Patients and physicians should use National Cholesterol Education Month to discuss cholesterol-lowering options, including any necessary medications."

For more heart-healthy lifestyle tips and tools, including a meal planner and questions to ask your doctor this National Cholesterol Education Month, visit www.CRESTOR.com.

About CRESTOR® (rosuvastatin calcium) Tablets

In adults, CRESTOR is prescribed along with diet to lower high cholesterol and to slow the buildup of plaque in arteries as part of a treatment plan to lower cholesterol to goal.

CRESTOR is also prescribed to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people without known heart disease but at increased risk based on age (men 50 years and older, women 60 years and older), elevated blood levels of hsCRP (a sign of inflammation that can be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events), plus at least one additional risk factor (such as high blood pressure, low HDL "good" cholesterol, smoking, or family history of early heart disease).

Important Safety Information about CRESTOR

CRESTOR is not right for everyone, including anyone who has previously had an allergic reaction to CRESTOR, anyone with liver problems, or women who are nursing, pregnant, or who may become pregnant. Your doctor should do blood tests before and during treatment with CRESTOR to monitor your liver function. Unexplained muscle pain or weakness could be a sign of a rare but serious side effect and should be reported to your doctor right away. Elevated blood sugar levels have been reported with statins, including CRESTOR. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking any medications. The most common side effects are headache, muscle aches, abdominal pain, weakness, and nausea.

For more information about prescription only CRESTOR, including the full Prescribing Information, call 1-800-CRESTOR or visit www.CRESTOR.com.

CRESTOR is licensed from SHIONOGI & CO, LTD, Osaka, Japan. CRESTOR is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines.  As a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory and inflammation, oncology and infectious disease medicines, AstraZeneca generated global revenues of $32.8 billion in 2009.  In the United States, AstraZeneca is a $14.8 billion healthcare business.   

For more information about AstraZeneca in the US or our AZ&Me™ Prescription Savings programs, please visit: www.astrazeneca-us.com or call 1-800-AZandMe (292-6363).

SOURCE AstraZeneca