THE PONCHATOULA TIMES, JANUARY 26, 2012, PAGE 8
Health
Statin risks: current status
By DR. RANDOLPH HOWES M.D., PhD
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Longtime medical columnist for The Ponchatoula Times, the
author is an accomplished surgeon, medical inventor, and Country music recording
artist. Dr. Howes grew up on his parents' Ponchatoula strawberry farm. He is a
graduate of St. Joseph, Ponchatoula High School, Tulane - two doctorates, followed
by a residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in plastic surgery. He says he is "re-
tired" now in Kentwood.)
First things first. In November of 2010, cardiologists at Johns
Hopkins Hospital found that, among healthy adults, only those
with measurable buildup of artery-hardening calcium would sig-
nificantly benefit from cholesterol-lowering (statin) treatment.
Giving these strong drugs for
"preventative-measures only"
to healthy adults is not recom-
mended.
Hopkins investigators said,
"Our results tell us that only
those with calcium buildup in
their arteries have a clear ben-
efit from statin therapy. Those
who are otherwise healthy and
have no significant calcification
should, with their physician,
focus on aggressive lifestyle im-
provements instead of early ini-
tiation of statin medications.
The statin drugs should not
be approached like diet and
exercise as a broadly based so-
lution for preventing coronary
heart disease." Note: as many
as five percent of people on sta-
tins develop serious side effects,
such as muscle pain and liver
damage, while one in 255 will
develop diabetes.
The general rule is statins
help people who have at least
a 10 percent chance of a heart
attack in the next 10 years.
Last June, a report in the Jour-
Judge Grace
Bennett
Gasaway
announces
Amnesty
2012
Dr. Howes
nal of the American Medical
Association analyzed five ad-
ditional randomized trials and
concluded the increased risk for
diabetes was small but real for
people taking higher doses of
any statin.
That report calculated that
one fewer patient would expe-
rience a heart attack or other
cardiovascular problem for ev-
ery 155 patients treated for a
year and there would be one
additional case of diabetes for
every 498 patients treated. As
they say, 'ou do the math."
In short, we are giving mas-
sive amounts of drugs to people,
who probably do not need them
and we are exposing millions
of people to unnecessary risks
of developing serious complica-
tions from these highly tout-
ed but potentially dangerous
drugs.
Additionally, since statin
drug manufacturers are target-
ing children, we have no infor-
mation of the long term effects
in this age group. Statins have
long been known to cause severe
muscle pain that on occasions
becomes a serious breakdown of
muscle that can lead to kidney
failure, even death.
A 2012 article in Archives of
Internal Medicine found an in-
creased risk of developing type
2 diabetes in older women tak-
ing statin drugs.
In the America that I love,
we know that many statin us-
ers wrongly assume that pills
(including statins) will let
them eat whatever they wnt.
But, the medical literature has
shown for decades that a bal-
anced nutritious diet and exer-
cise are frequently better choic-
es for improving overall health
and cardiovascular health than
gulping down pounds of pills.
Personally, I had to stop sta-
tins because of serious side ef-
fects, including muscle trauma
and fatigue. Some consider the
cholesterol story to be a highly
profitable hoax but some data
supports statin use in selected
patients.
Judge Grace Bennett Gas-
away announced today that the
City Court of Hammond would
once again implement an am-
nesty program for outstanding
warrants and attachments in
the Seventh Ward Court.
Persons who have failed to
pay traffic tickets and other
misdemeanor violations will
have an opportunity to handle
these matters without the ex-
pense of a warrant fee during
this amnesty period.
Judge Gasaway announced
the dates for the amnesty pro-
gram will be Monday, January
30, 2012 through Friday, Feb-
ruary 10, 2012. The Clerk's
office will be open from 8 a.m.
until 4 p.m. on those days and
all persons interested can call
the Clerk's office during office
hours at 542-3455.
The Deputy Clerks will be
able to inform persons of out-
standing warrants/attach-
ments. Also, any persons inter-
ested can visit the Court Court's
website to see if they have an
outstanding warrant/attach-
ment. (www.citycourt.org)
• Citizen
FROM PAGE 4
and respect my father. Although
I am aware of all his great
qualities, it warms my heart to
know just how many others rec-
ognize them as well. I honestly
feel that my father deserves all
the awards and recognitions
available. I'm very blessed to
have such an inspirational role
model in my life. I strive every
day to live up to his wonder-
ful qualities and can only hope
that one day I'm half the person
and citizen that he is. I am very
proud to call him my father."
• Cadillac
FROM PAGE 6
features are very easy to use.
The climate controls are defi-
nitely top shelf. As a driver you
can personalize separate tem-
perature zones, heated or air
conditioned for each passenger.
Wouldn't you like to always be
able to ask each guest, "And
what is your favorite tempera-
ture"?
Ponchatoula Therapy wins Genesis Award
The Ponehat0ula Gardenettes would like to recognize
Ponchatoula Therapy as the recipient of the Genesis Award
for January and February. Ponchatoula Therapy is owned
by Carrie Layrisson, occupational therapist, and her hus-
band Bry Layrisson of Ponchatoula. They recently opened
their business in July 2011 to provide physical, occupation-
al, and speech therapy to the local community. Since open-
ing only six months ago, the Layrissons and their friends
have worked on many renovations to the building and
property. It was Smith's Nursery of Ponchatoula who pro-
vided the landscaping. The landscape started with a basic
plan of Red Formosa Azaleas and Shishi Camellia shrubs in
front, with a variety of trees - Little Gem Magnolia, Dwarf
Crepe Myrtles, and Japanese Crepe Myrtles that are cov-
ered with blooms in the spring time. To add to this there
are frost proof Gardenias and Pink Muhly Grass bushes,
accented with Lily of the Nile and Knockout Rose flowers.
It should be noted that the Ponchatoula.Gardenettes is a
local garden club, a member of the District VI Louisiana
Garden Club Federation Inc. (LGCF) and the Deep South
Region of the National Garden Clubs Inc. (NGC). (Courtesy
Photo)
Butters family big fan of Cortni April
Patriarch Randy Butters (left) is pictured with Emma
Butters, "Cortni April" Butters, Colleen Butters, Chelby
Butters, and Owen Johnson. (Times Photo)
Church offers chicken dinner fundraiser
Times Report
A Ponchatoula church, First Apostolic Tabernacle, is offering a
grilled chicken plate lunch on Friday, January 27, for a seven dol-
lar donation.
The meal includes grilled chicken, potato salad, baked beans,
bread, and dessert.
Local delivery is available (Please call by noon Thursday to en-
sure delivery). Pick up begins at 10:30 a.m. at the church's Camp-
bell Lane location.
For more information call 985/634-0052 or 985/517-5054
Serenity House Homeless Shelter 9th Anniversary
Serenity House Homeless Shelter held its 9th Anniver-
sary Celebration Saturday, co honor all the volunteers
who have generously donated their time and resources to
continue co update the only shelter in the parish. Through
their efforts, the Busy Bees, among throngs of others have
painted the exterior, replaced the gathering room floor, in-
stalled a commercial stove hood, remodeled a bathroom,
to name a few. Without the tireless efforts of Ms Seymore
and her "angels" there would be no safe place for the home-
less to live. Pictured (left to right) Thomas Joseph, volun-
teer Nancy Lowentritt, Executive Director Francis Sey-
more, Bishop Jesse Guion of Divine Hope Ministries, board
member Jeanne Voorhees, and Master of Ceremonies Pon-
chatoula Chief of Police Bry Layrrison, (Courtesy Photo)
Proud grandfather
Ponchatoula singer Cor-
tni April is pictured with
her grandfather, Ronald Fa-
ciane, at her concert Friday
at Berrytown Corner Caf.
(Times Photo)
Cortni April wowed the
crowd at Berrytown
Corner Cafe
(Times Photo)
LOCAL HOME
DELIVERY
AVAILABLE FOR $5
EMAIL LETTER. € TO THE EDITOR m editor@ )onchatoula.com SUBSCRIBE ONLINE m WWW.PONcHATOULA.COM/PTIMES
