| Thanks to countless TV commercials, many | | | | better when it comes to gastro-intestinal bleeding. |
| people believe that aspirin can reduce the risk of | | | | A study in Lancet found that the risk of bleeding |
| heart attacks, even colon cancer. Based on this | | | | was 2.6 times higher in people taking 325 mg or |
| belief they take regular (325 mg) or baby (81 mg) | | | | less of regular aspirin compared to people not |
| aspirin every day. The problem is that this | | | | taking any aspirin. The risk in people taking |
| supposed benefit is a lie. | | | | "buffered" aspirin was 3.1 higher. In people who |
| Early studies with aspirin showed absolutely no | | | | took more than 325 mg of regular aspirin a day |
| benefits when it came to preventing heart | | | | the risk was 5.8 times higher, while in those taking |
| attacks. (BMJ 1974 vol. 1 p. 436, Lancet Vol. 2 p. | | | | buffered aspirin it was 7.0 time higher. In other |
| 1313, JAMA Feb 15, 1980, BMJ 1988 vol. 296 pg. | | | | words, people taking buffered aspirin actually had |
| 313-6). Then one study which used Bufferin | | | | higher risk! |
| (aspirin and magnesium) showed that while the | | | | But that is not the only problem with aspirin. |
| number of fatal heart attacks was not reduced, | | | | According to an article in the journal |
| there were 40% fewer non-fatal heart attacks in | | | | Ophthalmology (September 1998), people who |
| people taking Bufferin. This is the reason why | | | | used aspirin for 10 or more years had over 40% |
| doctors recommend aspirin for prevention of | | | | higher risk of developing cataracts, especially if |
| heart attacks. | | | | they were younger than 65 years of age. |
| It is almost certain that magnesium was | | | | Even worse, aspirin can actually increase the risk |
| responsible for Bufferin's benefits, not aspirin. | | | | of heart attacks and strokes. This has to do with |
| Magnesium is well known for its positive effect on | | | | the fact that many people are aspirin-resistant. In |
| heart and blood vessels. But it was completely | | | | some people aspirin prevents platelets from |
| ignored and aspirin came out a winner. | | | | sticking together and forming a blood clot. These |
| A review published in Lancet on May 30, 2009 | | | | people are called aspirin-sensitive. In others it does |
| analyzed the results of previous studies that used | | | | exactly the opposite, so they are called |
| aspirin to prevent heart attacks and strokes. | | | | aspirin-resistant. |
| They looked at 6 studies that evaluated 95,000 | | | | According to an article in the Thrombosis Journal |
| people for an average of 7 years. | | | | (January 2004), up to 40% of people may be |
| People taking aspirin did not have any benefits. | | | | aspirin resistant. A study published in the Journal |
| They had just as many heart attacks, strokes, | | | | of the American College of Cardiology (March |
| and vascular deaths as people who did not take | | | | 2003) showed that aspirin resistance is associated |
| aspirin. But they had significantly more bleeding | | | | with an increased risk of death, heart attacks and |
| complications, especially gastrointestinal. | | | | strokes compared with aspirin-sensitive patients, |
| The authors of the study concluded that their | | | | 24% vs. 10%. |
| results "do not seem to justify general guidelines | | | | Aspirin use has been linked to macular |
| advocating the routine use of aspirin in all healthy | | | | degeneration, one of the major causes of |
| individuals." In other words, current practice of | | | | blindness in the U.S. Macula is located in the center |
| routinely giving aspirin to all people who might be | | | | of the retina (the back of an eye). It has the |
| at risk of heart disease is wrong. | | | | most concentration of the visual elements and if |
| It is not justified by any scientific evidence, it is | | | | something goes wrong with it, the eye stops |
| simply a very good marketing on the part of | | | | seeing. Macular degeneration was usually the |
| aspirin manufacturers. If you are taking aspirin, | | | | disease of old people and it was practically |
| please be aware that you are not getting any | | | | unheard of in people younger than 60 years old. |
| benefit and are putting yourself at a higher risk of | | | | But not any more. Now almost 10% of people |
| major bleeding complications. | | | | with macular degeneration are under 60 years of |
| Taking aspirin every day can get you in trouble | | | | age, thanks to widespread use of aspirin. It turns |
| because it has many side effects. It can cause | | | | out that aspirin causes small hemorrhages into the |
| irritation of the stomach and intestine. In many | | | | macula, which causes macular degeneration. |
| people it causes stomach ulcers, bleeding, and | | | | A study of over 88,000 female nurses found that |
| perforation (a hole in the wall of the stomach or | | | | those who took 2 aspirins daily for 20 years had |
| intestine). According to New England Journal of | | | | a 58% increase in pancreatic cancer vs. those not |
| Medicine, over 100,000 people are admitted to the | | | | taking aspirin. Pancreatic cancer is now #5 cause |
| hospital every year with bleeding ulcers caused by | | | | of cancer deaths and the number of cases have |
| aspirin and other aspirin-like drugs (Motrin, Advil, | | | | gone up a lot in recent years. Is aspirin to blame? |
| Alleve, etc.) and over 16,500 of them die. | | | | Aspirin can trigger asthma attacks in people who |
| According to an article in the Journal of American | | | | are sensitive to it. Studies show that regular use |
| Dental Association, 50 to 70% of people taking | | | | of aspirin can damage your kidneys and your liver. |
| aspirin develop irritation of the stomach and | | | | So aspirin is not the lifesaver you thought it to be. |
| bleeding. This is true whether they take regular or | | | | Stop taking aspirin and start using natural |
| baby aspirin. | | | | alternatives. For more common sense advice on |
| And don't think that "buffered" aspirin is any | | | | health and nutrition please click the link below. |