| Aspirin has been around for over half a century. | | | | So the "experts" seem to think that at least 95 |
| It's primary and "original" use was for pain relief. | | | | percent of the population needs aspirin on a daily |
| But when Tylenol and NSAIDs (such as Advil) | | | | basis. But the dangers associated with extensive |
| took over the pain relief field, the aspirin industry | | | | use of aspirin are downright horrifying. |
| "bigwigs" pulled out the "big guns" and went after: | | | | Aspirin Does The Opposite |
| heart disease. | | | | Researchers have reported that aspirin might, in |
| What the heck, they figured. After all, a | | | | fact, increase your risk for stroke, heart attack, |
| billion-dollar medicine has to go somewhere. And | | | | macular degeneration (blindness), and cataract |
| like most businesses, you have to keep growing | | | | formation! You didn't hear anything about these |
| and finding new "revenue streams" to increase | | | | findings because no one reported on them in the |
| revenue and profits. The "big killer" of heart | | | | popular press. So if you don't read medical |
| disease seemed like a natural avenue to go down. | | | | journals in your spare time, you probably missed |
| So aspirin decided to acquire "new indications" as a | | | | these REAL bits of news. |
| blood-clot fighter and is already widely used to | | | | Here's what the researchers have to say: |
| treat and prevent strokes and heart attacks. | | | | - 40% of people who regularly take large doses |
| It Didn't Work For Apples | | | | of aspirin actually demonstrated an INCREASED |
| Just about every male I know over the age of | | | | risk of both stroke and heart attack. |
| 60 (including younger men) and many women | | | | - Regular aspirin users have a significantly |
| (BOTH my parents in fact) are taking "an aspirin a | | | | increased risk of macular degeneration with |
| day to keep the doctor away." Well, it didn't work | | | | blindness! |
| for apples and I don't think it works for aspirin | | | | - Aspirin use also puts people at a 44% increased |
| either. But that isn't stopping its promoters from | | | | risk of cataracts. |
| telling people it will do that and a whole lot more. | | | | Of course, there's always the widely known |
| Crazy Claims | | | | increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding that |
| Take a quick look at some of the other claims | | | | accompanies aspirin too. And these sorts of |
| the "Aspirin Institute" is making about its product. | | | | findings weren't published in some lowly rag. No, |
| The "Institute" strongly hints ("studies suggest | | | | the highly respected prestigious rags, like the |
| that...") that this "miracle drug" cures, decreases, | | | | British Medical Journal, Lancet, and the Journal of |
| alleviates, or prevents: | | | | the American Medical Association, came to a |
| - Breast cancer | | | | similar conclusion: aspirin shows no benefit in the |
| - Migraine headaches | | | | prevention of heart attacks! |
| - Hodgkin's disease Alzheimer's disease | | | | To Be Continued ... |
| - Prostate cancer | | | | I try my best to keep these articles short. But |
| - Cancer of the pancreas | | | | sometimes, especially with an important topic that |
| - Colon cancer Birth defects | | | | most everyone is familiar with - like Aspirin - I |
| - Leukemia Immune disorders, including AIDS | | | | tend to just keep on writing. Well, I'll stop for |
| And that's just a partial list, But geez ... take a | | | | today since I don't want to overload you with too |
| look at the last one - AIDS! Wow, if Aspirin really | | | | much information at once. |
| could do that, it would be a "miracle" drug, right? ... | | | | |