Take a peek in nearly anyone's bathroom cabinet and it's clear — prescription medications are common in the US. But just how common are they, and what types of medications are we using?

Women typically go through menopause in their early 50s. Hitting menopause before this age might carry some serious risks to the heart.

For many patients, statins have been an effective therapy for reducing high levels of cholesterol. For some with very high cholesterol, statins may not be enough.

People take statin medications to fight high cholesterol. While these medications also may help those with high heart risks but not high cholesterol, statins are not always prescribed to those patients.

People with a history of heart attack are at risk of having another. Though medications are often prescribed to stave off another heart attack, not all patients follow that prescription.

There may be a simple way elderly men can prolong their life if they have high blood pressure, and it doesn’t involve medication or surgery.

Some of the biggest killers worldwide are diseases that can largely be prevented: heart disease, chronic respiratory disease, cancers and diabetes. But it will require some effort.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women in high-income countries. It seems that the biggest risk factor for the condition may be a lifestyle habit that can be changed.