A New Study On Statins Reveals a Surprise About the Popular Drugs

Statins are the drugs of choice for treating high cholesterol and preventing or reducing heart disease, but the long list of side effects marked on the packaging of statins can be a turn-off for those who might benefit from them. Now, a new study published in The Lancet found that only a few of those side effects are really a risk. Researchers discovered only 4 of the 66 undesirable outcomes attributed to statins were significant. The study found no evidence of memory loss, dementia, depression, sleep disturbance, erectile dysfunction, weight gain, nausea, fatigue or headaches from taking the medication. The study looked at the effects of five drugs − Atorvastatin, Fluvastatin, Pravastatin, Rosuvastatin and Simvastatin − and used data from 19 large-scale clinical trials with 123,940 participants, often comparing the statin versus a placebo. "Our study provides reassurance that, for most people, the risk of side effects is greatly outweighed by the benefits of statins,” said Christina Reith, Associate Professor at Oxford Population Health and lead author of the study.

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21 Friends From Belgian Village Win $145 Million in the Lottery

In a small, peaceful village in Belgium, a group of 21 close-knit friends had been living ordinary lives, but all that changed when their shared dream became a reality. The friends, who had known each other for years, regularly played the EuroMillions lottery together. Little did they know that one fateful ticket would change their lives forever. This was no ordinary win — it was the second largest EuroMillions jackpot ever claimed in Belgium, totaling an astounding €123 million ($145 million). The group had always agreed that if they ever won, they would share the prize equally. Each winner will walk away with about €5.8 ($6.8 million). Marianne, a retiree who is one of the winners, said she and her husband are going to be wise with their money and not do anything foolish. Still, some celebrations were in order, so the 21 winners met that same evening at a local cafe to celebrate, with plenty of champagne bubbles. The secret to such a big win? According to Redgy Taerwe of Belegde Broodjes, the sandwich shop that sold the winning ticket, “It involves a good amount of luck.” He went on to say that the group chose a quick-pick ticket and paid €105 ($123). That’s not a bad return on their money.

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City of Dallas Hires 300 Goats to Clean Up Reservoir

Bells jingled across White Rock Lake as hundreds of goats began doing what they do best: eating weeds. About 300 goats were deployed Thursday to eat invasive plants in the area. As part of the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department’s new eco-friendly vegetation management project, the city is using goats from Fort Worth and Weatherford, along with a few sheep, to clear roughly 11½ acres of prairie and wooded land on the lake’s east side. The city is paying about $1,300 per acre, or about $15,000 for the project. The goats will graze about 1½ acres a day over the next 10 days. An electric mesh fence will be moved daily to guide them to new sections, while a shepherd remains on-site 24/7 to keep everyone safe and on task. Think of it as rotating salad bars, but the guests have hooves. The city chose goats because they will eat basically anything woody that’s green, including shrubs, saplings and low branches up to about 5 feet high. While the goats will handle the shrubs and trees, 5-10 sheep will graze on the grass. Together, they form a balanced landscaping team. Officials say that as entertaining as goat-watching may be, the project serves serious goals: reducing wildfire risks, improving visibility near trails and restoring prairie health.

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End of An Era For Iconic Orange Juice

Minute Maid has axed a generational staple as its frozen juice concentrates will no longer be made after 80 years on the market. The iconic juice that was introduced in 1946 and shipped in cans across the country has been discontinued by parent company Coca-Cola. The decision was made “in response to shifting consumer preferences.” Minute Maid’s frozen juices, including orange, lemonade and limeade, are set to be off shelves by April, with inventory available while supplies last. The ready-to-drink juices in bottles will still be available. Sales of frozen beverages fell nearly 8% last year, with people preferring fresh-squeezed and bottled varieties.

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