Aspirin Risks May Outweigh Benefits

 

The study, reported in the Archives Of Internal Medicine, analyzed nine randomized studies of aspirin use by more than 100,000 people.  None of the participants in the study had ever experienced a heart attack or a stroke and all regularly took aspirin or a placebo.  The good news from the study was that regular aspirin users were found to be 20 percent less likely to experience a non-fatal heart attack and 10 percent less likely to have any type of heart ailment.  The bad news:  Aspirin users were about 30 percent more likely to experience serious gastrointestinal bleeding.  For every 162 people who took aspirin, one nonfatal heart attack was prevented, but about two serious bleeding episodes were caused.

 

The lead author of the study was reported as saying that in people without a previous heart attack or stroke, aspirin taken regularly may cause more harm than benefit.  The study showed no cancer prevention benefit.

 

This study suggests that if you have had no previous cardiovascular problems and take aspirin regularly, or are considering doing so, you should consult your physician and ask questions about the benefits and risks of aspirin use.