Drugs and exercise beat cholesterol

CHOLESTEROL lowering drugs and exercise are a winning combination for staving off death, research has shown.

Both on their own reduce the chances of people with high cholesterol dying prematurely, the study found. Together, they had a significantly greater effect.

US scientists studied more than 10,000 veteran service men and women who had been diagnosed with the high cholesterol condition dyslipidaemia.

All had their fitness graded after taking part in an exercise test. Over a period of ten years, death rates were lowest for those who were both taking statins and physically fit.

The differences could not be explained by factors such as age, weight, ethnicity, sex, heart disease history and other drugs, said the researchers writing in medical journal, The Lancet.