Cardiologist talks new medication that could reduce heart attack risk

JACKSON, Tenn. — For millions of Americans who have experienced a heart attack—or worry about having one—new research presented at the American College of Cardiology‘s 74th Annual Scientific Session and Expo offers an important update in prevention.

A widely available low-dose anti-inflammatory medication, Colchicine 0.5 mg, has been shown to help reduce dangerous arterial plaque that can lead to heart attacks and stroke—turning back the clock on the progression of cardiovascular disease.

To tell us more is nationally recognized cardiologist Dr. Matthew Budoff.

“If you have a lot of inflammation in the arteries, and that requires a blood test, but if you have a lot of inflammation, then you may need therapy, and thats’ what we’ve been researching,” said Dr. Budoff.

Findings from the Ekstrom trial show that low-dose Colchicine, when added to standard treatments like statins, helped reduce total plaque volume and demonstrated signs of reversing certain types of buildup inside the heart’s arteries in patients with stable coronary disease.

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