Washington, DC - The rising popularity of herbals and supplements in Western countries has become increasingly worrisome for physicians who have not traditionally thought to ask their patients whether they are taking any nonpharmaceutical products, despite the often potent effects of certain supplements and vitamins, a new review concludes [1].

Writing in a "state-of-the-art" paper published online February 1, 2010 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Dr Ara Tachjian (Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN) and colleagues note that more than 15 million people in the US alone take herbal remedies and/or vitamins at doses that might be interacting with their cardiovascular medications, potentially putting them at risk. Read full article »