New Aspirin Therapy Guidelines

Dear Dr. Levister: What are the benefits and risks of taking a daily aspirin? V.S.

Dear V.S.: The use of daily aspirin to fight cardiovascular disease has been a long-standing debate between medical professionals.

Because of the increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, aspirin, especially in high doses, is not recommended for every patient.

However, U.S. experts have revised aspirin guidelines, stating that lower doses appear to be at least as effective as higher doses and safer at preventing heart attack in men and stroke in women.

The new U.S. Prevent ive Services Task Force guidelines are tailored to match age and gender. Among the recommendations: Men aged 45 to 79 should take aspirin if the chances of preventing a heart attack outweigh the chances of gastrointestinal bleeding (GI). Women aged 55 to 79 should take the drug if the chances of reducing ischemic stroke outweigh the risks of GI bleeding. The recommendations, published in the March issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, state:

• Men aged 45 to 79 with heart risk factors should take aspirin if the preventive benefits outweigh the risk of bleeding.

• At-risk women aged 55 to 79 should take aspirin if the odds of reducing a first ischemic stroke outweigh the chance of bleeding.

• Men under the age of 45 and women under 55 who have never had a heart attack or stroke should not take aspirin for prevention.

• At this time, it is not clear whether patients aged 80 and older should take aspirin.

Lower doses of daily aspirin (75 milligrams to 81 milligrams) are equally, if not more effective, than higher doses (100 mg or more) in preventing heart attack and stroke in at-risk individuals. High doses may actually do more harm, especially in people taking the clot-dissolving drug clopidogrel (Plavix®).

African Americans have more severe high blood pressure than Caucasians and a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. Heart disease and stroke risk is also higher among Mexican Americans, American Indians, native Hawaiians and some Asian Americans. This is partly due to higher rates of obesity and diabetes.

Aspirin is the most used drug worldwide to prevent heart attack and stroke, according to recent studies. More than one-third of US adults are believed to take aspirin each day. Always consult your physician before beginning any aspirin therapy.

Benefits Of Baby Aspirin | Benefits Of

Benefits of Baby Aspirin

Also referred as low dose aspirin, baby aspirin has been in use for a very long time. Baby aspirin generally contains 81 mg of acetylsalicylic acid. This acid works by preventing Cox-2 enzymes from working. These Cox-2 enzymes are responsible producing prostaglandins which are pain causing hormones. The following are more benefits of baby aspirin.

1. Increase fertility Taking baby aspirin daily helps by increasing blood flow to the uterus which in return makes the lining of the uterus healthier. This aids in the successful implantation of the baby. Other studies show that baby aspirin increases activity in the ovaries by allowing them to produce multiple eggs when ovulation is taking place. If you are experiencing fertility problems, your health practitioner may prescribe baby aspirin.

2. Prevents blood clots Baby aspirin is used as a blood thinner and works by preventing blood clotting issues which are well connected to miscarriage problems. Taking low doses of aspirin makes the blood platelets less sticky thereby allowing blood to freely travel to the unborn baby through the placenta. Usually low aspirin dosages are prescribed to be taken with an anticoagulant.

3. Anti-aging effects Taking low dosages of aspirin help in relieving pain especially in people who are prone to heart attacks. They are encouraged to take dosages of aspirin to ward off such problems as it prohibits certain enzymes formation which are responsible for pain causing hormones.

Conversely, baby aspirin is not recommended to people with nonsteroidal resistance or people who have bleeding problems as it might accelerate the rate of bleeding and trigger peptic ulcers.

Good news about high blood pressure, everything you need to know to take control of hypertension--and your life

Strategies for Protecting Your Child's Immune System, Tools for Parents and Parents-To-Be

Best Practices for Hospital & Health-System Pharmacy 2010-2011

The biology of human longevity, inflammation, nutrition, and aging in the evolution of lifespans

Essentials of family medicine