Benefits And Risks Of Aspirin

Long term use of Aspirin has been researched and discovered to be safe for patients diagnosed with certain conditions.

Those patients, who have experienced a stroke or a heart attack or who are at high risk for developing these issues, may be prescribed low dose Aspirin to be used in order to help prevent further cardiovascular events. 

Occasional Aspirin can be used to manage issues such as fevers, headaches or general pain. Long term Aspirin use though needs to be suggested and prescribed by a doctor as this medication does have some problematic side-effects.

Mechanism for preventing heart attacks

When a person has a build up of fatty deposits in the coronary arteries, these plaques can burst and clots can then form and result in obstruction of these arteries and ultimately compromise flow of blood to the heart muscle.

Aspirin interferes with the clotting mechanism of blood by reducing the clumping ability of platelets to form clots, and thereby possibly help prevent a heart attack from occurring.

Indications

The following people are prescribed long term Aspirin therapy if they fulfill any of the following criteria:

• They had a previous episode of a stroke or heart attack.
• A stent has been placed in a coronary artery.
• Previous coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).
• The person is at high risk of experiencing a heart attack, even though they haven't had one.
• The patient is diagnosed with diabetes, has any one other heart disease risk factor (such as hypertension or a high LDL level), and if they are men over 50 years of age or women over 60 years of age.
• Patients who have a 10% or more chance of experiencing a stroke or heart attack over the next 10 years, don't have a bleeding risk and who are between 50-59 years old.

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Precautions and side effects

As mentioned, a person needs to consult their doctor in order to determine what the benefits and risks are to that individual before starting Aspirin therapy. 

Conditions exist which can be exacerbated by the use of Aspirin and this drug may then be contraindicated in specific patients. These can include:

• Worsening of a bleeding or clotting disorder.
• Increased risk of a haemorrhagic stroke, even though it decreases the chances of a clot-related stroke.
• Increased incidence of bleeding of stomach ulcers.
• Aspirin allergy which can result in anaphylactic shock.

Drug interactions

Patients using Aspirin should be cautious when using other anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, naproxen or diclofenac. These drugs can increase the risk of bleeding when used in combination.

Stopping Aspirin