Used as a pain reliever, fever reducer, anti-inflammatory and blood thinner, aspirin is a versatile drug. A small dose of aspirin daily can prevent a heart attack or stroke. Since heart disease occurs so frequently, this treatment could help a large number of patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men and women, with about 785,000 Americans experiencing a first heart attack every year.
Aspirin
Aspirin falls into the group of drugs called salicylates. Available under various brand names, aspirin typically comes in a tablet form. The dose for pain or fever relief is one or two 325 mg tablets every four hours. Swallow aspirin with a full glass of water; chewable and orally disintegrating forms can also be purchased. When taking aspirin, do not use alcohol or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen.
Low-Dose Treatment
The aspirin dosage for low-dose treatment can run from 81 to 325 mg per day. Do not start aspirin treatment without the advice of a doctor. Aspirin works by thinning the blood or reducing blood clots. Blood clots can form and block blood flow to the heart or brain, causing heart attack or stroke. The effects of low-dose treatment differ between men and women. Men of all ages taking aspirin have reduced heart disease risk, and the treatment can prevent a first or second heart attack. Women benefit from aspirin with reduced heart disease risk, prevention of a second heart attack or first stroke. Women over 65 have these same benefits as well as prevention of a first heart attack.
Treatment Side Effects
Talk over the risks and benefits of low-dose aspirin treatment with a doctor. The side effects of aspirin treatment include increased risk of stomach ulcer with the resulting gastrointestinal bleeding. Taking too much aspirin can cause hearing loss or ringing in the ears. Aspirin treatment does reduce the risk of a stroke caused by a blood clot, but it could increase the risk of a stroke caused by bleeding. Those that need surgery or dental work should make sure the doctor knows because the risk of bleeding increases.
Considerations
Those that have asthma, stomach ulcers, heart failure or a bleeding disorder might not tolerate daily aspirin treatment. Those with diabetes should not routinely take aspirin. Diabetic men over age 50 and women over age 60 who have other risk factors for heart disease should ask the doctor about low-dose aspirin treatment. Once a patient has started daily aspirin treatment, suddenly stopping can cause a rebound effect of increased risk for heart attack or stroke.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Daily Aspirin Therapy; Understand the Benefits and Risk; June 2010
- "New Enfland Journal of Medicine"; A Randomized Trial of Low-Dose Aspirin in the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Women; Paul M. Ridker, et al.;March 2005
- Drugs.com: Aspirin Information
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Heart Disease Facts
