Aspirin benefits

[Dr Jekyll]

It now appears that aspirin not only reduces your chances of dying from stroke or heart attack, but also of cancer. But I thought the majority died of one of these three, so how can reduce them all? Do a significant proportion of people die of things like flu or pneumonia? Or is it that if we all eat aspirin we'll simply die of stroke/heart attack/cancer a few years later on average?

[turbolucie]

Was talking to some doctors about this yesterday. Apparently there was a study done that showed that if you didn't have risk factors for ischaemic problems such as heart attacks and strokes, then taking aspirin is risky, as it increases your risk of bleeding problems(including haemorragic stroke).

So everyone necking aspiring daily may not be the wonder it appears. More research needed I think.

[Grandad Gaz]

Hmm, was thinking of taking half aspirin a day as I have also heard about all the benefits including reducing the risk of cancer.

I,m 57, in pretty good health. Don't smoke, hardly drink and am not on any medication.

Surely, 1/2 a tablet a day would be very safe or would I be wasting my time?

[Paul Dishman]

Grandad Gaz said:

Hmm, was thinking of taking half aspirin a day as I have also heard about all the benefits including reducing the risk of cancer.

I,m 57, in pretty good health. Don't smoke, hardly drink and am not on any medication.

Surely, 1/2 a tablet a day would be very safe or would I be wasting my time?

I'd say you'd be wasting your time.

[Steffan]

Since we are all (??) contributing to a National Health Service I find the best advice is available from senior consultants therein.

I lifetime of debauchery and endless fun (being an Accountant) has take its toll on mu body. As have 5 wives.

I suffer from ischemic heart problems, high cholesterol, very high blood pressure, diabetes,diabetic nephritis, diabetic retinopathy and several fractures of the`skull and a broken spine twice and a dislocated hip twice and various other broken bones because I fall over regularly which makes exercise difficult and risky. I still exrcise despite the risks. I need to to fight the circulation shut down.

In addition to asthma, eczema, and thinning skin through heavy steroid use.

I take so many tablets of various compounds that I have daily schedule of timing and dose.

I actually feel exceptionally well. I have, perhaps fortuitously, always had a very high pain threshold. Fractured my skull three times never knocked myself out yet.

I regularly consult my advisers on dosage and side effects. Again, fortuitously, I suffer from few of these. I can for example take 800 mg of Tramadol a day and still function quite happily. Not generally what 800 mg of Tramadol does. Most patients would be comatose. As my consultants remind me.

I strongly advise every individual with High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Heart trouble, circulation disorders and so forth to use the health service to the fullest extent. I have had brilliant service from every doctor I have ever met and huge information downloads about diet etc etc.

22 years ago my Diabetic consultant warned me to lose weight and stop smoking and all alcohol intake or die. I was 25stone 7 lbs then. Smoking 60 a day and drinking far too heavily.

I followed his advice. I stopped smoking and never smoked again. I lost weight I am 14 stone now I lost the weight over about two years and kept it off. There is a great deal you can do for yourself.

But you cannot replicate or research more knowledge or better information than is already available from the health service. These people atre in my experience real experts with huge knowledge of their subject. Listen to the Doctor and follow the advice. That is my take on this. It worked for me.

[R300will]

Beware of these epidemiological type studies because they can be sponsored by the drug company producing the drug to be tested and therefore there is a bias straight away. And there are often risk factors among people in the study that cannot be quantified and therefore cancelled out so an accurate result is often rare.

Aspirin and other NSAIDS can increase the risk of developing gastric ulcers due to the loss of production of mucous in the stomach lining so if you are perfectly healthy and taking one everyday just to ward off the risk i don't think you are doing yourself any favours really. If you have had history of high blood pressure or cholesterol then there may be some net benefit.

[BlackVanDyke]

R300will said:

Beware of these epidemiological type studies because they can be sponsored by the drug company producing the drug to be tested and therefore there is a bias straight away. And there are often risk factors among people in the study that cannot be quantified and therefore cancelled out so an accurate result is often rare.

Aspirin and other NSAIDS can increase the risk of developing gastric ulcers due to the loss of production of mucous in the stomach lining so if you are perfectly healthy and taking one everyday just to ward off the risk i don't think you are doing yourself any favours really. If you have had history of high blood pressure or cholesterol then there may be some net benefit.

The most recent study involving aspirin that I'm aware of - the one that really came out with the numbers about reducing IHD and stroke, perhaps a couple of years ago now? - was emphatically not sponsored by a drug company. I know this because my dad was one of its database managers. There have probably been others since but that was the Really Big Epidemiological Study which really kicked into gear the general knowledge about regular aspirin being a good idea for a much larger population than was previously thoguht. Hope that helps.

[Steffan]

BlackVanDyke said:

R300will said:

Beware of these epidemiological type studies because they can be sponsored by the drug company producing the drug to be tested and therefore there is a bias straight away. And there are often risk factors among people in the study that cannot be quantified and therefore cancelled out so an accurate result is often rare.

Aspirin and other NSAIDS can increase the risk of developing gastric ulcers due to the loss of production of mucous in the stomach lining so if you are perfectly healthy and taking one everyday just to ward off the risk i don't think you are doing yourself any favours really. If you have had history of high blood pressure or cholesterol then there may be some net benefit.

The most recent study involving aspirin that I'm aware of - the one that really came out with the numbers about reducing IHD and stroke, perhaps a couple of years ago now? - was emphatically not sponsored by a drug company. I know this because my dad was one of its database managers. There have probably been others since but that was the Really Big Epidemiological Study which really kicked into gear the general knowledge about regular aspirin being a good idea for a much larger population than was previously thoguht. Hope that helps.

With any treatment for vascular disease or indeed any serious disease there are always downsides to consider. When your circulation is compromised to the point that mine has reached after a lifetime of debauchery ,(diminishing but sill there!), then there is a choice. Take the tablets if you want to live.

My concern is the apparent lack of connection between the encyclopedia's of allopathy, the medical profession, and many posting on PH.

I would advise noone to change anything who is on the likes of Clopidergrol. Nicorandil, Simavastatin, Warferin, Aspirin, Bisopropolol, Metformin, Gliclizide, Istin, Indapamide or any serious drugs controlling blood pressure, chlolesterol, circulation disorders, blood clotting, or heart problems or the like without consulting both their GP and consultants.

FIRST and BEFORE changing.

It it life saving treatment. Literally. Change it at your peril.

[goldblum]

R300will said:

Beware of these epidemiological type studies

The word 'epidemiology' simply means the study of the causes and spread of disease,as in 'epidemic'.In recent years it has come to mean the study of other 'health events' as well.Therefore the testing of any drug could not be described as an 'epidemiological type study'.

[R300will]

goldblum said:

R300will said:

Beware of these epidemiological type studies

The word 'epidemiology' simply means the study of the causes and spread of disease,as in 'epidemic'.In recent years it has come to mean the study of other 'health events' as well.Therefore the testing of any drug could not be described as an 'epidemiological type study'.

Well i am not sure as to the correct name for those types of study. However in our Epidemiology module we have looked at published drug trials as examples which is what i meant by the term i used. They follow similar styles of production and testing as a study of a disease and its risk factors etc, and therefore care should be taken when reading them before drawing your own conclusions.

[Steffan]

R300will said:

goldblum said:

R300will said:

Beware of these epidemiological type studies

The word 'epidemiology' simply means the study of the causes and spread of disease,as in 'epidemic'.In recent years it has come to mean the study of other 'health events' as well.Therefore the testing of any drug could not be described as an 'epidemiological type study'.

Well i am not sure as to the correct name for those types of study. However in our Epidemiology module we have looked at published drug trials as examples which is what i meant by the term i used. They follow similar styles of production and testing as a study of a disease and its risk factors etc, and therefore care should be taken when reading them before drawing your own conclusions.

That is why I recommend discussing this with individuals who have spent 10 - 15 years in education and gaining expertise post qualifying in getting to be experts on such matters. The specialist Consultants.

It is good to get background knowledge and read around medical conditions but a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

My list above contains a number of drugs that conflict with each other. I personally doubt that any non medical person could reasonably form a view of what changing any of these drugs might do to a patient whose health is compromised to the point where he needs to take them.

Even with that knowledge the Doctors I see are VERY uncertain about altering any dose. They always , without exception, quite honestly and openly, consult with several other experts first. Tells you something IMO.

[motco]

As a result of being in BUPA at the time (1997) when I had Bell's Palsy (a short term viral facial paralysis), I was sent to a neurological consultant and for an MRI. All wasteful and un-necessary but paid for by BUPA of course. He said that a 75mg dose of enterically coated aspirin was advisable as a preventative against cerebral thrombosis (clotting type stroke). I asked then whether it wouldn't make a bleed type of stroke worse and he said most strokes were thrombotic. Since then I have read so much negative stuff about the practice that I have wanted to stop the daily dose. Nobody can tell me, and my son is a medical registrar and he says it's not his field, whether there is a rebound effect from sudden cessation of the dose which might lead to blood thickening. So I took the pragmatic route and am now taking 75mg on alternating days. At least one doctor since has said that it seemed a sensible thing to do to hedge my bets! Medicine is a system of informed guesswork. It has been described as an entertainment for the patient whilst nature affects a cure.

[Paul Dishman]

I gave Grandad Gaz the same answer as I would have if he'd come into work. In his case, with his medical history as posted, then I'd say he'd be wasting his time taking aspirin daily. This is in line with the current recommendations.

Someone like Steffan coming in with a more complex medical history would need further advice, and I'd always refer them onto their GP to begin with.

[Grandad Gaz]

Paul Dishman said:

I gave Grandad Gaz the same answer as I would have if he'd come into work. In his case, with his medical history as posted, then I'd say he'd be wasting his time taking aspirin daily. This is in line with the current recommendations.

Someone like Steffan coming in with a more complex medical history would need further advice, and I'd always refer them onto their GP to begin with.

Thanks to All for the help.

I'm still undecided though!
It's not heart problems or things like that I'm worried about. There is none in my family at all. I'm slim build, blood pressure and cholesterol are all where they should be.

My reason for taking it would be to help reduce cancer risks. Anyone can get cancer. Even the super fit and healthy!!

[turbolucie]

Steffan said:

That is why I recommend discussing this with individuals who have spent 10 - 15 years in education and gaining expertise post qualifying in getting to be experts on such matters. The specialist Consultants.

It is good to get background knowledge and read around medical conditions but a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

My list above contains a number of drugs that conflict with each other. I personally doubt that any non medical person could reasonably form a view of what changing any of these drugs might do to a patient whose health is compromised to the point where he needs to take them.

Even with that knowledge the Doctors I see are VERY uncertain about altering any dose. They always , without exception, quite honestly and openly, consult with several other experts first. Tells you something IMO.

Absolutely agree with seeking expert advice. However I disagree that doctors 'always, without exception, quite honestly and openly, consult with several other experts first'. Rare in my experience.