Could Cholesterol-lowering Drugs Fight Pneumonia?

Thousands of people around the world take a statin pill every day – to lower their cholesterol levels and help reduce their risk of stroke and heart attacks. In some people they cause side-effects – but they might also have a hidden benefit - helping older people fight the serious respiratory infection pneumonia. A British researcher describes her delight when she saw that statins boosted the immune systems of older people – which could help them fight deadly pneumonia.

Following the biggest ever outbreak in Australia it is now the turn of the northern hemisphere to prepare for the flu season. As winter approaches in Europe and the US we answer listeners’ questions on flu and colds.

You might have seen stories online where a couple are in bed together, the man calls out, she screams…his heart’s given up. Every day in the USA more than a thousand people have a cardiac arrest – which is where the heart stops beating because of an electrical problem. Some people with heart problems worry about whether the exertion of having sex might put a strain on their heart. But at the American Heart Association’s conference this week, there was good news: it’s much more rare than we thought.

Image: Statin (Simvastatin) pills on a blister pack
Credit: Science Photo Library