Electron beam tomography has been used to show how taking statins and living a healthy lifestyle can slow down heart disease.

Researchers at the Electron Beam Center, Matilda International Hospital, Hong Kong, have found that cholesterol-reducing drugs and lifestyle modification are capable of slowing heart disease by one third. They used electron beam tomography (EBT), a form of imaging, to determine the extent of calcium deposition in the coronary arteries, in a group of 102 patients.

They had EBT once at the start, then again 12 years on, having been prescribed statins and advised on weight control, exercise and diet. Calcium scores went up for all patients, but less so for those who both took statins and kept to a healthy lifestyle. The researchers suggest this could be a very fruitful approach for those who are at risk of heart disease but do not want to have interventions such as bypass surgery.

Source

American Heart Association Asia Pacific Meeting 8th June 2003