As a medical remedy, aspirin dates back 2000 years. Traditionally, aspirin’s primary function was to relieve pain and reduce fever and inflammation. Recently, investigators have become interested in aspirin’s other qualities, namely, its anticlotting properties. The early attention was focused on people who had a previous heart attack or stroke and on those who had angina pectoris. Aspirin therapy was found to decrease the risk for a subsequent cardiovascular event. The results from 25 studies indicated that low dose aspirin
- Lowered the risk for major cardiovascular or cerebrovascular complications by 25%.
- Lowered the total death rate for a vascular event by 15%
- Reduced the risk of nonfatal heart attack by 32%
- Reduced the risk of nonfatal stroke by 27%.
Taking aspirin within a couple of hours after a heart attack has reduced mortality by 23% during the first 5 weeks following the attack. Aspirin plays an important role in preventing a second or third heart attack. Its potential for preventing an initial heart attack was addressed in the physician’s health study. One standard aspirin tablet taken every other day lowered the heart attack risk by 44 % in a population of male physicians 40 to 84 years of age.
Because the subjects in these studies were men, the effect of aspirin use on women is unclear. However, a study of a large population of nurses is currently underway to determine if women respond similarly to preventive and therapeutic aspirin therapy.
The ideal aspirin dosage required to protect the heart is not known. Available evidence suggests that less than one tablet every other day is sufficient. The best dose may be less than a quarter of a tablet. In the case of aspirin for protection against a first heart attack, more of the drug is definitely not better.
Aspirin reduces the risk and incidence of heart attack because of its anticlotting properties. It prevents the blood platelets from clumping together to form a plug. When a plug develops at the site of a diseased coronary or cerebral artery, a heart attack or stroke will occur.
Even though aspirin appears to be effective in preventing heart attacks and strokes, current medical advice is to consult a physician to determine if it is desirable for you. Regular aspirin usage does have undesirable side effects. It can cause gastrointestinal distress and internal bleeding. The most serious complication of aspirin use occurs in people with uncontrolled hypertension, which is the leading cause of a hemorrhagic stroke. Because aspirin promotes bleeding, the risk of a stroke of this type becomes greater than aspirin’s preventive effect against a heart attack.
Tags:angina pectoris, aspirin tablet, aspirin therapy, cardiovascular event, cerebrovascular, first heart attack, heart attack risk, low dose aspirin, Maximizing Cardiovascular, medical remedy nonfatal heart attack