So what’s the straight dope on taking an aspirin every day?
I’ve talked to two MD’s about this. One says that, “Doing so will help prevent heart attacks.” The other says not to do it; it thins your blood, and bleeding may occur more easily in weak blood vessels. Who’s right? Perhaps those two docs should get together and arm wrestle…
IANAD but my cardiologist suggested I take one BABY asprin a day since my cholesterol runs a little high. The downside might be that I bleed a little longer than I would otherwise… but preventing a stroke or heart attack seems like a reasonable trade-off… YMMV.
I recommend that all my patients over 40 take at least 80 mg (one baby aspirin) a day, unless they have contra-indications such as allergy, or a history of gastric bleeding, and others. It has been demonstrated to reduce the frequency of acute heart attack, to decrease the mortality rate from a heart attack, and it may also reduce the risk of ischemic stroke. It does make nosebleeds a bit more difficult to control, but not so much that one should avoid aspirin for fear of that.
Qadgop, MD
I drink wine instead. Recent studies indicate that wine is no better than beer. So sometimes I drink beer instead, to play it safe. Bottoms up.
Have you ever heard of the guy that is playing it safe by wearing a belt and suspenders? Well, I do it by taking an aspirin and a couple of drinks.
BE SURE TO TAKE COATED ASPIRIN
Does Advil count?
No. Advil (ibuprofen) does not have the anti-platelet effect that makes aspirin helpful. Nor does tylenol, naproxen, orudis, vioxx, celebrex, etc.
Interestingly, I read somewhere that it is thought possible that artificial colorings used in foods (or maybe it was artificial flavorings) have a common ingredient with aspirin. The theory was that the average person ingests enough “aspirin” from these colorings to lower their heart attack risk. Apparently, there is some corolation between use of these ingredients and lowered heart attack rates.
But it was only a theory.
Aspirin is acetylsalicyclic acid. I don’t think artificial flavoring or colorings contain that. Most artificial colorings have dyes.