The US Preventive Services Task Force has made a controversial recommendation with respect to aspirin for heart disease prevention.
Aspirin Pros & Cons:
For years, the evidence has shown that people who take aspirin lower their risk of heart attacks but increase their chances of bleeding ulcers or bleeding strokes. On the plus side, aspirin appears to reduce the risk of several different types of cancer, but some people are quite sensitive to aspirin and may develop nasal polyps or even anaphylactic reactions to the drug. Balancing the benefits and the risks can be complicated, and the Task Force has made a rather complex recommendation.
Who Should Take Aspirin to Prevent a Heart Attack?
The USPSTF suggests that people in their 50s or 60s at high risk of heart disease might prevent a heart attack by taking aspirin, perhaps just one low-dose tablet a day. Younger people, older people, and those at very low risk of heart disease may not reap the anticipated rewards. As a side benefit, however, those on a regular low-dose aspirin regimen to prevent a heart attack also lower their risk of colorectal cancer.
It might take many years for this effort to prevent a heart attack to pay off. People with a life expectancy less than ten years probably won’t benefit from taking aspirin, and those with bleeding disorders or a history of ulcers should avoid it. People should talk with their doctors to determine whether aspirin is appropriate or if it might offer more risk than benefit.
Annals of Internal Medicine, April 12, 2016
5/10/18 redirected to: https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/articles/how-do-you-weigh-the-benefits-and-risks-of-aspirin/
