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November 13, 2025
Drug prescribed to thousands of Brits could ‘slash risk of deadly heart attack and stroke’, say researchers
A DRUG prescribed to thousands of Brits a could reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke, according to a new study. Researchers found colchicine - an inexpensive drug used to treat gout - could cut heart attacks and strokes in people with cardiovascular disease, researchers said. If you thought gout - a type...
## Could Common Gout Drug Offer Unexpected Protection Against Heart Attacks and Strokes?
A readily available and inexpensive drug commonly prescribed in the UK for gout may hold the key to significantly reducing the risk of deadly heart attacks and strokes, according to a groundbreaking new study. Researchers have discovered that colchicine, a drug used for decades to alleviate the painful symptoms of gout, could offer substantial cardiovascular benefits to individuals already living with heart disease.
Gout, a type of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid in the joints, affects thousands across the UK. Colchicine works by reducing inflammation, a key factor in the agonizing pain associated with gout flare-ups. Now, scientists believe this same anti-inflammatory action could be what makes it effective against cardiovascular events.
The study, details of which are expected to be published in a leading medical journal, suggests that colchicine can cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes in people with pre-existing cardiovascular disease. While the exact mechanisms are still being investigated, researchers theorize that by reducing inflammation in the arteries, colchicine helps to stabilize plaque buildup and prevent it from rupturing, a major cause of heart attacks and strokes.
This discovery could have a profound impact on preventative cardiology. Heart attacks and strokes remain leading causes of death and disability worldwide, and finding a readily available and affordable drug that can significantly reduce the risk is a major step forward.
Experts are urging caution, however, emphasizing that further research is needed to fully understand the optimal dosage and long-term effects of colchicine for cardiovascular protection. They also stress that colchicine is not a substitute for existing treatments for heart disease, such as statins and blood pressure medication, but could potentially be used as an add-on therapy.
The research team plans to conduct larger and more comprehensive trials to confirm their findings and explore the potential of colchicine to prevent cardiovascular events in a broader range of patients. If these trials prove successful, colchicine could become a vital tool in the fight against heart disease and stroke, offering hope for a healthier future for thousands of Brits and potentially millions worldwide.
A readily available and inexpensive drug commonly prescribed in the UK for gout may hold the key to significantly reducing the risk of deadly heart attacks and strokes, according to a groundbreaking new study. Researchers have discovered that colchicine, a drug used for decades to alleviate the painful symptoms of gout, could offer substantial cardiovascular benefits to individuals already living with heart disease.
Gout, a type of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid in the joints, affects thousands across the UK. Colchicine works by reducing inflammation, a key factor in the agonizing pain associated with gout flare-ups. Now, scientists believe this same anti-inflammatory action could be what makes it effective against cardiovascular events.
The study, details of which are expected to be published in a leading medical journal, suggests that colchicine can cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes in people with pre-existing cardiovascular disease. While the exact mechanisms are still being investigated, researchers theorize that by reducing inflammation in the arteries, colchicine helps to stabilize plaque buildup and prevent it from rupturing, a major cause of heart attacks and strokes.
This discovery could have a profound impact on preventative cardiology. Heart attacks and strokes remain leading causes of death and disability worldwide, and finding a readily available and affordable drug that can significantly reduce the risk is a major step forward.
Experts are urging caution, however, emphasizing that further research is needed to fully understand the optimal dosage and long-term effects of colchicine for cardiovascular protection. They also stress that colchicine is not a substitute for existing treatments for heart disease, such as statins and blood pressure medication, but could potentially be used as an add-on therapy.
The research team plans to conduct larger and more comprehensive trials to confirm their findings and explore the potential of colchicine to prevent cardiovascular events in a broader range of patients. If these trials prove successful, colchicine could become a vital tool in the fight against heart disease and stroke, offering hope for a healthier future for thousands of Brits and potentially millions worldwide.
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