Two new studies show how GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic protect the heart, and what happens when people stop taking them. A major review from Anglia Ruskin University analyzed data from over 90,000 patients across 11 international trials. The results were positive: GLP-1 drugs reduced serious heart problems by about 13% compared to a placebo. Patients experienced fewer heart attacks, strokes, and hospital admissions for heart failure. However, a separate study from Washington University School of Medicine revealed a concerning pattern. When patients stopped taking these drugs, the protection disappeared quickly. After one year without the medication, the risk of heart problems increased by 14%. After two years, the risk rose by 22%. Even brief breaks in treatment caused damage. Patients who stopped for six months and then restarted only regained partial protection. Dr Ziyad Al-Aly called this effect "metabolic whiplash," explaining that inflammation, blood pressure, and cholesterol all increase when people quit the drugs. About 26% of GLP-1 users stopped medication entirely, and roughly 23% had breaks of six months or longer. The message is clear: these drugs only work if you continue taking them. The heart remembers what you stop giving it.