This week, Merck and Schering-Plough, the makers of popular cholesterol drugs Vytorin and Zetia faced a new setback. The results of a new clinical trial indicated that these drugs, whose combined sales topped $5 billion in 2007, are ineffective in accomplishing their main goal: reducing the growth of plaque in the arteries. The New York Times editorial board suggested yesterday that Merck and Schering-Plough “may have sat on adverse data for more than a year lest their sales be undermined.”

The bad news is that patients who used these drugs may not have been protecting themselves as well as they thought against plaque and heart attacks. The good news is, there are other ways — besides drugs — that you can help reduce your risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and heart disease.

To learn more about how to maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle, visit the Healthy Heart Guide on THE MYSTERIOUS HUMAN HEART Web site. You’ll find information on the major risk factors of atherosclerotic diseases, as well as tips for developing healthy dietary and exercise habits.

While certain drugs have been shown to help reduce the risk of heart attacks, doctors agree that a healthy heart begins with a healthy lifestyle.

For more information, go to THE MYSTERIOUS HUMAN HEART Online.