Health Studies INFORMATION ON AREA Persistent cholesterol? This study needs you

By Margaret Foster

When we have high levels of bad cholesterol in our blood, plaque builds up in our arteries, leading to blockages, strokes or heart attacks.

Beacon Bits

Aug. 19

This type of heart disease is called atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and it can be deadly. About 2 million Americans are hospitalized each year with the condition, and 400,000 of them die, accord-

Ask A Financial Planner Day

Do you have questions about financial planning, Medicare, Social Security or other pressing financial issues? Bring them to the free “Ask a Financial Planner Day” at the Silver Spring Civic Center, 719 Ellsworth Dr., Silver Spring, MD, on Sat., Aug. 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Receive one-on-one financial coaching and attend workshops to learn about all things finance — from estate planning to Medicare to college planning. The event is open to the public and registration in advance is encouraged. For more information and to register, contact Belle Osvath at (703) 501-8292 or jbosvath@gmail.com, or visit bit.ly/AskAFinancialPlanner.

Primary Care At Home

Providing primary care medical services in the comfort and convenience of your home for patients who have difficulty traveling to an office.

Ikon Health offers:

• Care coordination with specialists.

• Access to services such as x-ray and blood work, at home.

• Close communication with patients and their loved ones.

• Accepting Medicare, Medicaid and most major supplemental insurance plans.

Participants must:

• Be 18 years of age or older

• Have a history of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD)

• Be on a maximally tolerated lipid-modifying therapy ing to the American Heart Association.

Now a study is underway to see if a new investigational medication is helpful for treating ASCVD and reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events when taken with your existing medication as compared to a placebo. (An investigational product is a study medicine has not been approved by the FDA for use in the U.S.)

Who qualifies for the study?

To be eligible for the clinical trial, patients must have a history of heart disease, cholesterol buildup in the blood vessels going to the brain or in the legs, or history of stroke or heart attack. In addition, patients must be on a lipid-modifying drug such as a statin.

The study is expected to last approximately 32 months and will require several in-person visits to Annapolis, Maryland. The first two visits last about 90 minutes.

While on the medication, patients will visit the clinical site approximately every three months during the first year of the study; those three follow-up appointments will last around 20 to 30 minutes.

After completing the first year in the study, patients will visit the clinic every six months, and have telephone calls with the

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Sept. 19+ clinic staff twice yearly until the study completes.

“Participants are compensated for each time they come in for an in-person appointment, and they are compensated for telephone appointments as well,” said Husna R. Baksh, a physician affiliated with the Maryland study.

“Also, depending on where they are coming from, we can set up access to UberHealth [transportation] to get them to appointments if they are not able to drive, or need the assistance for travel.”

In addition to compensation, Baksh said, participants “would help science by providing information for an alternative option for a medication that is effective at lowering cholesterol for patients who cannot take what is already on the market — or are taking a prescription medication but still have high levels of bad cholesterol.

“This is especially helpful for patients who have a history of heart disease, stroke or cholesterol buildup in their blood vessels,” Baksh said.

For more information about this study, or to see if you qualify to volunteer, call (240) 760-1667 or email InfoMarylandEast@JavaraResearch.com.

Free Virtual Employment Expos

Job seekers 50+ are welcome to attend either or both of the JCA employment expos. The Montgomery County event is on Tues., Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the Northern Virginia event is on Thurs., Oct. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is required at virtualexpos.accessjca.org. For more information, call (301) 255-4209 or email seniorexpo@accessJCA.org.

Spotting Scams And Staying Safe

Aug. 15

Learn how to detect scams and keep yourself safe at this free workshop from AARP on Tues., Aug 15 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Georgetown Neighborhood Library, 3260 R St. NW, Washington, DC. To register, visit bit.ly/SpottingScamsAndStayingSafe.

Take Medications and Supplements Safely

If you’re like most older adults, you take one to five or more prescription medications daily. As we age, our bodies react differently to medications and we become at greater risk of adverse drug reactions and interactions.

To protect yourself from these risks

Keep a list of ALL your meds — prescription, over-the-counter and supplements — in your wallet or on your phone. Include the name and dose of the medicine,how often you take it, and the name of the prescriber. Show it to every doctor on every visit.

(such as potential interactions), they will work with you and your doctor to help solve them.

Understand the difference between meds, OTC products and supplements. Both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) are regulated by the FDA and must be proven safe and effective.

However, FDA regulates dietary supplements under a different set of regulations than those covering prescription and OTC drugs. Supplements — which include vitamins, herbals, anti-oxidants and other “natural” supplements — have NEVER been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness or purity.

required to have warnings about side effects or drug interactions. But that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

If you want to use a supplement, chose one with the USP Verified Mark when possible. This mark means the product contains the listed ingredients at the strength indicated — and is not contaminated with any other substances.

Dispose of unused meds safely

Don’t just throw unused or expired medications (prescription or OTC) in the trash. The safe ways to dispose of these is either at a drug disposal location/box (frequently found at pharmacies), or at a Drug-Take-BackDay event. You can find a disposal site near you by visiting AWARErx.org. Be sure to remove all personal information on pill bottle labels and medicine packaging before you go.

For trusted health information online

Not all health information you find online is accurate. Be cautious when you evaluate information on the internet.

Here are some sites you can trust: www.safemedication.com — Drug information for consumers in a searchable database from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. www.webMD.com — A URACaccredited website that provides credible information, supportive communities, and in-depth reference material about health subjects.

Ask your pharmacist to give you a free review of all your meds. They will explain how each medicine works, answer your questions, and help you prepare questions to ask your other healthcare providers. If the pharmacist finds any problems www.montgomerycountymd.gov/senior

People often think of supplements as safe. But they lead to about 23,000 emergency room visits every year. “Natural” doesn’t mean “safe.” Poison ivy is natural. Plus, supplements aren’t www.RXlist.com — Part of the WebMD network that provides information on drugs and supplements, as well as a pill identifier and symptom checker.