How many times have you heard how aspirin is good for people seeking to prevent a heart attack? Today, this has become common knowledge, and aspirin is often taken by people suffering from heart disease that want to try to prevent a heart attack. However, a new study has found that aspirin may not be as good for you as you once thought, and many people that are taking aspirin should not be doing so.
According to the study published in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology, more than 11 percent of patients taking aspirin to prevent a first time heart attack should not be doing so.
Acetylsalicylic acid or Aspirin is well-documented as a treatment for ailments of the heart. Aspirin works by preventing the formation of blood clots, which is one of the causes of both strokes and heart attacks. The easily available over the counter drug isn't risk free, however, carrying with it the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.
The American Heart Association guidelines recommend a daily aspirin as part of primary prevention in people with a 10-year consecutive risk of 10 percent or more. Other guidelines suggest the cut off should be lowered to 6 percent.
Researchers studied records of 68,808 patients taking aspirin for primary cardiovascular prevention in various kinds of medical practices between 2008 and 2011. They found that 7,972 of them, or 11.6 percent, were taking aspirin daily despite having a cardiovascular disease risk of less than 6 percent.
In some groups, researchers even found inappropriate use was even more common. For example, 17 percent of women taking aspirin had less than a 6 percent chance of having cardiovascular disease.
"We need a discussion between the patient and the clinician to see that we're not causing more harm than good," said the senior author, Dr. Salim S. Virani, a cardiologist at Baylor College of Medicine. Because a lot of patients take aspirin, he added, the "public health risk could be high."
The study highlights the importance of doctors accurately assessing the risks of cardiovascular disease of their patients, and only prescribing a daily aspirin regimen if their risk meets the accepted standards.
Before you begin taking aspirin daily to prevent heart disease, consult with your physician and be sure you understand both the potential benefits and the potentially harmful side effects of taking any drug on a daily basis.
