This Medical News series offers an occasional roundup of developments in cardiovascular medicine.
Omega-3 fatty acids, cardiac rehabilitation for stroke, and statin use in elderly individuals made the news in recent months.
Prescription omega-3 (蠅-3) fatty acids at a dose of 4 g per day are safe and effective for reducing elevated triglyceride levels in most people, not just those with very high levels, according to a recent American Heart Association (AHA) . Before the drugs are prescribed, however, physicians should treat underlying causes, such as poorly controlled type 2 diabetes and hypothyroidism, and counsel patients on diet and lifestyle modifications.