Doctors often advise patients with heart disease to take aspirin daily. It is proven that it thins the blood and reduces the risk of a repeat attack. But sometimes it is prescribed to drink yourself healthy people: it is believed that acetylsalicylic acid reduces the risk of heart disease.
An international group of scientists debunk this dangerous myth that for healthy people over the age of 70 years aspirin is not only useless, but dangerous. In some cases it can even lead to death of the patient. The study is published in the journal The New England Journal of Medicine.
In the experiment, was attended by nearly 20 thousand older Australians and Americans who have not had a heart attack, stroke and cancer. All of them smoked. Half of the participants within five years, every day, took 100 mg of aspirin, the other half a placebo. It was found that the drug helped them to prevent the development of heart disease, but only increased the risk of stomach bleeding, potentially fatal.
Experts believe the results of the experiment are extremely important and are advised not to drink the medicine on an ongoing basis without appointment of the doctor. “It helps a lot of doctors who have long been in doubt, whether to recommend aspirin to healthy patients,” commented Professor John McNeil from Australia’s Monash University.
And those who are already taking acetylsalicylic acid acid every day, scientists are warned to stop abruptly too. To avoid complications, it is best to consult with your doctor.
Aspirin is actually quite a controversial drug. Previously portal “Ridus” reported that he might be slowing down the development of cancer of the colon. The scientists also found that the drug is 15-20% increases the survival after chemotherapy. At the same time, other scientific work, in contrast, was found among the side effects of aspirin the risk of developing cancerous tumors. In one study, it was also stated that acetylsalicylic acid increases cancer cell resistance to drugs.
While scientists understand what aspirin more harm or good, one thing is certainly known: it is impossible to drink cherry juice. Otherwise you risk to get a stomach ulcer. More details on this talk in the article “Incompatible drugs and drinks”.