Aspirin May Extend Lives People who take aspirin regularly to reduce their short-term heart attack risk may also be substantially extending their lives, new research suggests.
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September 13, 2001
By Alice Chang, M.D.
Harvard Medical School
How does this article relate to you?
It is now standard to recommend a daily aspirin for people who have had a heart attack because of its known benefits in preventing a second heart attack.
This study lends support to the theory that aspirin may also benefit people before they have a heart attack. The results suggest that if you have only suspected heart disease and you take aspirin regularly, your chance of dying within three years drops by 33 percent, a very high number.
What changes do you need to make?
Everyone should consult with his or her physician before starting regular aspirin therapy. The American Heart Association currently recommends that you consider taking aspirin regularly (a baby aspirin or a full aspirin once a day or every other day) if you have already had:
This study suggests that people who have not had these problems but have symptoms suggestive of heart disease (chest pain, shortness of breath or changes in the ability to exercise) should also consider regular aspirin therapy. In addition, people with many risk factors for heart disease (tobacco use, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a strong family history of heart disease) might want to discuss this study with their doctors.
Before you run to the drug store and stock up on aspirin, it is important to realize that regular aspirin therapy is associated with several risks, especially a risk of serious bleeding (from a stomach ulcer or from the intestines). People with liver or kidney disease, an allergy to aspirin or asthma are at higher risk of other complications from aspirin use.
What can you expect in the future?
Studies with a larger number of people and over a longer period of time are needed to confirm these findings about aspirin. We should also look for evidence that the side effects do not outweigh the benefits.
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