Just because aspirin is solid over-the counter doesnt mean it is safe. Previous advice for preventing heart attacks and strokes has been simple: Take asipirin everyday. However, new research suggests that patients and doctors prescribing them may need to think twice about that advice.

A recent study published in the journal of the American medical association found out that taking 300 milligrams or less of aspirin increased bleeding in the stomach and brain by 55%.

Reseachers looked at more than 186,000 patients taking a daily doze of aspirin and found nearly 2,300 cases of stomach bleeding and nearly 1,300 brain bleeding.

“The results show that the risks of bleeding are much higher than what doctors had previously suspected after several clinical trials and should prompt doctors to carefully consider patient’s individual health before prescribing aspirin.”

“When the cardiovascular risk is low, the adverse effects of aspirin overwhelm any benefit” unfortunately, many patients taking aspirin represent the ‘worried well’ rather than individuals with a high risk of coronary artery disease’.

Daily asprin therapy can be lifesaving or life threatening even to the high-risk cardiovascular patients. Generally people, who have uncontrolled high blood pressure and advanced kidney disease are at the greatest risk. Blood pressure should be controlled before any type of asipirin therapy is initiated.

“Asipirin should only be used to prevent cardiovascular event in association with an overall programme of lifestyle measures, including healthy eating, cessation of smoking, control of blood pressure and regular physical activity.”

TO BE CONTINUED