An “Aspirin a Day” DOES NOT Keep the Doctor Away [WARNING]
A doctor from California, named Dr. Lawrence Craven, back in 1948 recommended that folks take an aspirin a day to reduce their risk of a heart attack.
Here we are, well over 50 years later, and many mainstream docs still insist that a daily aspirin can shield your heart.
Which explains why nearly 29 MILLION Americans – many of them seniors – take a daily low-dose aspirin.
But here’s the problem…
A lot has changed since Dr. Craven’s infamous recommendation.
See, while daily aspirin may be best known for heart health… new studies reveal why it may be doing your heart (and body) a lot more HARM than good!
According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) – an independent panel composed of experts in disease prevention and evidence-based medicine – people over the age of 60 should not start taking daily, low-dose aspirin to prevent cardiovascular events.
Why?
Well, in a nutshell, the risks of taking a daily aspirin far outweigh any benefits!
For example, aspirin for older adults with low risk (and no prior history of heart attack or stroke) are at a greater risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, according to the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.
And three large, extensive clinical trials, following more than 47,000 older patients, highlighted these dangers.
Two of the studies didn’t find any significant reductions in heart attack or stroke for those on daily aspirin – but did find an increased risk of bleeding.
And the third trial – which focused on people with diabetes (a higher risk group) – found a small reduction in cardiovascular events, but with a higher bleeding risk.
The studies revealed that the bleeding usually occurred in the gastrointestinal tract – but there were also potentially DEADLY brain bleeds and hemorrhagic strokes.
My suggestion? If you’re currently taking aspirin, speak with your doctor about these new-found risks.
In addition, I recommend trying one of Mother Nature’s alternatives to aspirin – like magnesium.
Magnesium helps your heart muscle cells relax by countering calcium, which stimulates contractions. These minerals compete with each other to ensure heart cells contract and relax properly.
And studies have even found supplemental magnesium more effective than aspirin in lowering heart attack rates as well as overall death rates.
Have a great weekend,
Sarah Reagan
Sources:
Aubrey, Allison. “Older adults shouldn’t start a routine of daily aspirin, task force says.” 4/26/22. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/04/26/1094881056/older-adults-shouldnt-start-a-routine-of-daily-aspirin-task-force-says
Landau, Elizabeth. “From a tree, a ‘miracle’ called aspirin.” 12/22/10. http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/12/22/aspirin.history/index.html
Searing, Linda. “The Big Number: 29 million Americans take low-dose aspirin daily, but some probably shouldn’t.” 9/9/19. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/the-big-number-29-million-americans-take-low-dose-aspirin-daily-but-some-probably-shouldnt/2019/09/06/600e1bcc-cf53-11e9-8c1c-7c8ee785b855_story.html
Span, Paula. “A Daily Aspirin Regimen May Hurt More Than Help, Experts Warn.” 5/21/22. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/21/health/elderly-aspirin-heart-attack.html?referringSource=articleShare
Awakening Chiropractic. “The Truth About Prophylactic Aspirin.” 9/28/15. https://awakeningchiropractic.com/blog/2015-09-28/the-truth-about-prophylactic-aspirin/#:~:text=Supplemental%20magnesium%20and%20vitamin%20E,taken%20for%20a%20few%20weeks
