Healthy Bytes

The aspirin a day recommendation

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Why aspirin? It thins the blood which reduces the risk of clots.

Let’s start off with the BIG deal:
Aspirin can cause internal bleeding.

Studies have shown this. In fact, there was a study that lasted 10 years. Close to 20,000 women over 45 took 100mg of aspirin every other day. There was a similarly sized placebo group.

The results showed women over 65 reduced the RISK of heart attack and stroke by about a third. Sounds good right?
The study also showed 40% increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, in some cases severe enough to require transfusions.

I’ve seen a few comments from doctors in the media following the release of the recommendations. In every case, they expressed some hesitation over this blanket recommendation.

I have no doubt women have already started adding aspirin to their daily regimen.
After all, it’s just an over-the-counter thing.
Yep, so is Tylenol and there are plenty of deaths a year from that as well as untold liver damage. And cigarettes are over-the-counter.

While it may be over-the-counter, that does not guarantee it’s safe. If you’re considering aspirin, I strongly recommend you do your research, talk to a good doctor and very carefully consider the risks.

I would also recommend your first defense is nutrition and exercise.

This entry was posted on Wed, 28.Feb.2007 at 5:10 pm and is filed under Health, Pharmaceuticals. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.