An Aspirin a Day is Healthy;
but More Can Be Dangerous
An aspirin a day can be good for your heart. A new study shows that baby aspirin taken once a day is sufficient to prevent blood clots that can lead to heart attacks and stroke, and that higher doses taken long-term may actually be harmful.
The researchers, led by Charles Campbell of the University of Kentucky’s Gill Heart Institute, reviewed 11 clinical trials and observational studies including more than 40,000 people. Doses of 162 to 325 milligrams (adult aspirin) were found appropriate for acute situations in which platelet formation needs to be blocked quickly, taking such doses on a daily basis over a period of years was associated with gastrointestinal bleeding.
Doses of 81 and 325 milligrams are mostly commonly prescribed in the United States, although evidence clearly favors the lower amount.
Bottom line is that baby aspirin (81milligrams) taken daily is sufficient to protect against cardiovascular disease while minimizing the risk of complications. Individual responses to aspirin may vary, and more research is needed to determine if higher doses might be warranted in some cases.
Campbell and his colleagues are currently testing combinations of aspirin with other anti-platelet and anti-clotting agents for benefits and possible side effects.
Taken from the Journal of American Medical Association, May 9.
