26
Jul 2019
Warning that taking aspirin every day for heart health does more harm than good
Research has suggested that millions of older people are taking aspirin every day despite recent warnings that the medication could be doing more harm than good.
For some time, the recommendation has been for a daily low-dose aspirin for adults who have a history of heart attacks or strokes and for those with heart disease, but earlier this year health officials overturned the advice for those who are otherwise healthy.
However, a study undertaken by researchers at Harvard’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre has found that in 2017, 29 million people in the US without cardiovascular disease, a quarter of adults over the age of 40, took an aspirin each day. Of these, 6.6 million did so without the recommendation of their doctor.
Study co-author, Dr Christina Wee, said “What we were somewhat surprised at is the high numbers of older aduts that were taking aspirin who don’t actually have existing heart disease or stroke.
“And that’s because it’s been known that the older that you are the higher the risk of bleeding from aspirin.”
Lead author Dr Colin O’Brien, said “Our findings show a tremendous need for healthcare practitioners to ask their patients about ongoing aspirin use.
“And to advise them about the importance of balancing the benefits and harms, especially among older adults ad those with prior peptic ulcer disease.”
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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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