Talk about missing the point!

Blood thinners are supposed to reduce the risk of the blood clots that can lead to a heart attack or stroke — but a new drug that’s intended to slash the risk of stroke can actually increase the odds of a heart attack.

That’s not a benefit — that’s trading one deadly risk for another.

The drug, called dabigatran but sold under the brand name Pradaxa, is most commonly given to atrial fibrillation patients, who have a higher risk of stroke to begin with.

It’s also the first in a series of new blood thinners specifically aimed at preventing strokes — but there were problems with it right out of the gate: Even in the studies used to get it approved, that heart risk kept popping up.

Now, a new analysis shows this wasn’t just a fluke, as the drug’s maker no doubt hoped, but a genuine threat that should have anyone thinking twice before popping these pills.

And get this: While the drug is supposed to slash the risk of stroke by a third, the new numbers show that it increases the risk of heart attack and acute coronary syndrome by pretty much the same amount — nearly a third — when compared to the older blood thinners as well as a placebo.

That’s not the only serious problem with Pradaxa. This drug hasn’t been on the market very long, but the FDA is already looking into reports of serious bleeding problems (being the FDA, however, you can bet that “look” is all they’ll do).

I’m sure this sounds like a win for warfarin and the older generation of blood thinners, but warfarin itself is so dangerous it’s actually been used for years as a rat poison — and patients who take it need to be closely watched, lest they end up like those rats.

Like all blood thinners, warfarin can also cause serious bleeding problems, not to mention swelling, bruising, flu-like symptoms and more. It’s even been linked to gangrene.

It’s nuts to take those risks when there are completely natural options on the table — including ordinary fish oil, safe for men and mice alike.

Talk to your doc before making any changes, but a skilled naturopathic physician can wean you off risky meds and help you find the right amount of your safe alternative.

And you can leave the warfarin in the garage for the rats.

The only thing worse than the dangers of many prescription drugs is what happens when you combine them.

On their own, many of these meds are plenty bad.

But they can bring you through a whole new world of hurt with some of their interactions – many of which we still don’t really know about.

Take the latest research on a popular med given after certain heart surgeries. This drug works to prevent blood clots, especially after patients have had stents surgically inserted.

Now, you’d think we’d already know how a common drug like that interacts with some of the more popular heartburn meds.

Turns out we don’t. Experts at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions said at their annual meeting, held in May, that their research shows that when these drugs are combined, patients face an increased risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular conditions.

Since these folks are already dealing with heart conditions, that’s the last thing in the world they need.

One study presented at that same meeting found that this combination of drugs can cause a 70 percent increase in heart attack risk, a 48 percent increase in stroke risk, and a 35 percent increase in a risk for the need to repeat a coronary procedure.

Yet one expert said “this is not an emergency situation.”

Who was that expert, so out of line with what appears to be the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions’ new line of thinking?

Only Dr. Steven R. Bailey, who happens to be president of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. That’s right – the very same group that’s uncovered the problem. They sound the alarm, and he’s trying to unring the bell.

No wonder so many doctors are so confused.

They look to these medical bodies for sound advice, and they get conflicting information.

While they’re right when they say more research is needed, you can’t ignore the evidence we have so far. And it says that right now, there’s no way you should you even consider combining these meds.

Dr. Bailey is concerned that if forced to choose between the two, patients will keep their heartburn meds and ditch the anti-clotting drug. But the truth is, the heartburn drug is the one you really don’t need.

Jonathan Wright, MD, has long ago shown that the problem with most people (about 95%) who suffer from “stomach acid problems” is not that they have too much stomach acid, but too little.

As a result, heartburn meds end up making the condition even worse in the long run, by lowering stomach acid even further, making it even harder for your body to properly digest food.

And that applies to everyone, not just heart patients. For more on how to cure your heartburn without meds, take a look at Dr. Jonathan Wright’s book, Why Stomach Acid Is Good for You.

Not only is his advice good for your stomach, but it might turn out to be good for your heart, too, if it keeps you away from a dangerous combination of drugs.

It turns out your mouth may play a bigger role in heart health than anyone could have imagined.

We already know that what you eat can have a huge impact on your heart. The low-fat, high-carb “Torture Chamber Diet,” for example, has led directly to the obesity and diabetes epidemics now facing our nation. And that one-two punch has left our tickers battered and beaten, making heart disease our number one killer.

But now we have more evidence that it’s not just the food you put in your mouth that matters when it comes to your heart. How you treat your teeth and gums, and how clean you keep your kisser, appears to have a direct impact on your overall cardiac health.

To put it simply, dirty mouths – and I’m not talking about salty language – lead to more heart attacks, according to a study carried out at the University of Buffalo in New York and presented at a meeting of the International Association of Dental Research.

The researchers looked at 386 men and women who had suffered heart attacks, and 840 people who had no history of heart trouble. They found that the heart attack victims had higher levels of bacteria in their mouths.

This isn’t the first study to find a connection between the condition of our teeth and gums and the overall health of our hearts. No one’s quite been able to put a finger on exactly why it matters – it may be that the bacteria in the mouth causes inflammation that can spread and ultimately lead to blood clots.

But we do know this: It matters, and possibly quite a bit.

The researchers in Buffalo were trying to find out if a specific kind of bacteria in the mouth might be a better indicator of heart disease, and they did find two that seemed more prevalent in heart attack victims. But in general, it was the sheer number of bacteria – and not their type – that mattered most of all.

More bacteria meant more heart attacks. Period.

That means it’s more important than ever not only to brush your teeth after meals, but to visit the dentist twice a year for a more thorough cleaning.

Now, many of us look forward to a trip to the dentist’s office about as much as, well, a trip to the dentist’s office.

I understand how you feel. I’ve taken my lumps in that chair, too. You can brush twice a day and avoid sugary foods and still find yourself squirming when that light comes on and the hygienist leans in.

It’s tempting to skip it, and unfortunately that’s what many people do – especially as we get older. And that’s a huge mistake. When you consider how dramatically the risks to your heart increase as you age, you need to start looking at those dental trips as more than just oral hygiene pit stops.

Because now we can say almost for certain that your dentist isn’t just saving your teeth.  He may be saving your life.