Aspirin has been used to reduce pain and and fevers for more than 100 years. According a study, people who took anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin may reduce your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
Aspirin prevents platelets in the blood from clumping together and forming clots. Blood clots can reduce or completely cut off blood flow to vital organs, including the heart and the brain. Interfere with that blood flow and you're at risk for a heart attack or a stroke.
It has also shown promise in preventing other diseases associated with free radicals. Free radicals are organic molecules responsible for aging, tissue damage, and possibly some diseases.
Professor Peter Weissberg, Medical Director of the British Heart Foundation, said: "We know that a small daily dose of aspirin can reduce the risk of a heart attack in people with angina and in those who've had a heart attack. In these cases, this potential benefit outweighs the risk of internal bleeding, which is a side effect of aspirin.
This study sought to determine if people with evidence of artery disease in their legs – which raises the risk of having a heart attack in future – would also benefit from taking daily aspirin.
Scientist discover that aspirin is safe when used as directed. But for other people aspirin can cause side effects. Side effects can include stomachache or nausea in up to 20 percent of patients, and stomach or intestinal ulcers and bleeding in 2 percent to 4 percent of those who take the drugs for a year, especially people over 60. The stomach bleeding can occur with little warning, and it can be fatal. Even low doses of aspirin can cause stomach bleeding in some people.
Should healthy people take aspirin to prevent heart attacks?
Healthy people who take aspirin in the hope of preventing a heart attack or stroke are doing themselves more harm than good, medical experts have warned.
If you have high blood cholesterol, diabetes, a family history of heart disease, or other major risk factors for a heart attack or coronary heart disease, talk to your doctor about what you can do to reduce your risk of heart attack and heart disease and whether an aspirin regimen is right for you. Your doctor will weigh your risk of heart attack or heart disease against the potential side effects of long-term aspirin use
Should you take aspirin if you're having a a heart attack ?
If you think you are having a heart attack you should dial 999 immediately for an ambulance. While you wait for the ambulance to come, chew 1 adult-strength aspirin (325 mg) or 2 to 4 low-dose aspirin (81 mg). Don't take the aspirin if you're allergic to aspirin. By calling 911 and taking an ambulance to the hospital, you may be able to start treatment before you arrive at the hospital.
Studies show that taking aspirin as soon as a heart attack is suspected may reduce the risk of death or complications from the heart attack.
Aspirin is the only OTC drug that has been shown to prevent heart attack or stroke. Although acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol®), ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®IB), and naproxen sodium (Aleve®) are, like aspirin (Bayer®), good drugs for pain and fever, only aspirin has demonstrated a beneficial effect for heart attack and stroke prevention.
However it is important that you should talk with your doctor to help you decide if an aspirin regimen is right for you.
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