The Benefits of a Daily Low Dose Aspirin Regimen



Posted: Tuesday, October 09, 2007

by
Improvita Health Products

Aspirin is one of the most carefully studied drugs available and has been used to reduce pain and inflammation for over a century. Evidence is rapidly growing that supports aspirins use in lowering the rates of heart attacks, stroke, colon cancer and even Alzheimers disease.

Living up to its reputation as a lifesaving drug, aspirins action as a blood thinner has been shown in clinical studies to reduce the rate of heart attacks, strokes and related deaths. This can be credited to aspirins ability to prevent blood from clotting, thereby preventing these events. In the event a heart attack or stroke does occur, taken immediately, aspirin can reduce their severity. Some preliminary data even suggests that regular aspirin use may prevent certain cancers from occurring.

Beyond benefits to the cardio vascular system, there are many other little known applications for a daily aspirin regimen, and they could be life saving. Here are a few facts about aspirin that support its use for the prevention of common ailments and health risks:



Benefits of aspirin

  • Aspirin officially has a place in the Smithsonian Institute and is a mainstay in just about every familys medicine cabinet and first aid kit.

  • A recent study suggests as many as one percent of air travelers suffer from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) due to prolonged sitting during long flights. Its been suggested that a low-dose aspirin taken before traveling any distance longer than four hours can reduce the potential for DVT.

  • The National Heart Foundation reports that patients who took low-dose aspirin had a 26% reduction in the risk of a nonfatal heart attack, 25% reduction in the risk of stroke and 13% reduction in the risk of death compared to similar patients who didnt take aspirin.

  • A daily low-dose aspirin therapy is commonly prescribed to adults to prevent heart attack and stroke and help improve blood flow to the heart .

  • Small daily doses of aspirin have proven to be effective in reducing the chances of mini-strokes (in which clogged blood vessels prevent sufficient oxygen from reaching the brain).

  • Aspirin is also used to reduce the risk of heart attack in people with clogged coronary arteries, and in those who've already had an attack.

  • The latest advancement in aspirin involves a no-swallow tablet that dissolves through the mouth, thus reducing the risk of ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding.

  • Aspirin may reduce the risk of heart disease in individuals with diabetes.

  • Approximately 36% of the adult US population more than 50 million people are estimated to take aspirin regularly for heart disease prevention.

  • Aspirin prevents heart attacks and strokes by blocking platelets from forming blood clots. Its anti-inflammatory properties may also play a role in preventing cancer.

  • Studies find that aspirin taken during a heart attack reduces the risk of death by 23%.

  • Evidence is rapidly growing that shows aspirin can slow the progression of colon cancer, and preliminary data suggests that regular aspirin use may prevent certain cancers from occurring at all.

  • Population-based studies report that an aspirin a day will either slow the progression or even prevent dementia, such as Alzheimers disease.

  • There is some evidence that aspirin may increase gall bladder motility and thus be effective in treating gall bladder disease.

  • An Australian study suggests that aspirin may guard against severe periodontal disease by protecting the fibers and ligaments around the teeth.



    If youre over the age of 65 or at risk for some of the above mentioned health problems, a daily aspirin regimen could be life saving. However, the risks associated with the regular use of over the counter aspirin products mustnt be overlooked. In some cases, large doses of aspirin typically found in over the counter aspirin products can cause stomach discomfort or gastrointestinal bleeding. For this reason, a low dose, fast absorbing aspirin product is recommended.



    Characteristics to look for in a fast absorbing, low dose aspirin



  • Look for a product that dissolves in the mouth instead of the stomach. This allows the aspirin to enter the blood stream within three to five minutes versus the 30 minutes to an hour for regular aspirin, quickly inhibiting platelet aggregation (blood thinning).

  • An acceptable dosage for low dose aspirin is about 81 milligrams.

  • Look for a sugar free product that can be safely used by diabetics.

  • Easy open packaging. (Can be beneficial for travel or emergency use.)

  • 50% of regular low dose aspirin users do not receive noteworthy blood thinning benefits. Make sure your product claims exceptional anti-clotting cardio protection.

    No wonder mature adults find a low dose aspirin regimen the answer to their concerns about the potential for heart attack and stroke. Aspirin, the anchor drug in medicine cabinets, now has taken a giant step forward in meeting the needs of an increasingly mobile mature market.

    NOTE Aspirin should not be taken on a daily basis without first discussing it with your health care provider.



    • This Article has been viewed 22,920 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
    Top-level comments on this article: (9 total)
    » left by Anonymous
     4 years 74 days ago.
    This article has changed my life forever!!! I am now a true believer of the benefits of aspirin!
    » left by Anonymous
     4 years 61 days ago.
    This is very informative and easy to follow. My doctor put me on an aspirin regimine last year and I didn't know everything written here.
    » left by carol bee from nowhere, usa 3 years 362 days ago.
    regimen, regimen! what IS that regimen?? how much & when?? we all KNOW baby aspirin for preventative maintenance
    » left by a martian
    from mars     3 years 12 days ago.
    "An acceptable dosage for low dose aspirin is about 81 milligrams"
     
    daily does is mentioned many times so one 81mg tablet perday carol
    » left by JEFFREY LEVIN from LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK 3 years 1 day ago.
    By: Jeff Levin
    Hi Tom and others:

    A low dose aspirin regimen advised by Dr. Roisen and Dr. Oz - both cardiologists at the Cleveland Clinic and heart sugeons who appear on OPRAH all the time ls the following

    1) Take 81 mg. of aspirin one in the morning, and once in the evening.
    Two tablets per day are actually better than one tablet per day.

    2) For individuals who have had a heart attack, one 325 mg. aspirin tablet per day is advised.

    3) It is wise to get the "enteric coated" aspirin, so there is no irritation to the stomach.  Either of the following two brands is equally effective:
    a) Bayer
    b) Ecotrin

    Good luck
    » left by David from California 3 years 1 day ago.
    Good info... thanks for the post.
    » left by Joel Hirschhorn 2 years 308 days ago.
    62 fans.
    I took a daily dose of a full aspirin for close to 40 years, and then I had a heart attack. So, be advised, aspirin is no panacea. I still take aspirin.
    » left by Anonymous 260 days 7 hours ago.
    Dog if you had not taken the asprin for 40 years, you may have had a more severe heart attack 30 years ago.
    » left by Anonymous 2 years 275 days ago.
    tom is a salesman and not a doctor. you should probably leave the medical advice to a real doctor, tommy.
    » left by Anonymous
     2 years 215 days ago.
    I am 41 years old. I take 325mg daily. I intend to continue with this throughout my life time.
     
    Am I doing a good thing?
     
    Vincent
    » left by lee from phoenix 39 days 7 hours ago.
    kept forgetting to take my daily dose. My neighbor, who is a nurse told me about a MED-Q Pillbox. I load it for two weeks and it flashes aon the day I'm suppose to take at the time I set. It also beeps to remind me. I bought it on line in Aug and have not missed one day. YEA! It cost less than 40 dollars. As busy as I am, it has made forgetting impossible. Thought you might like to know

    Lee
    » left by Patience
    from USA     2 years 99 days ago.
    What about the bleeding side effects from continuously taking low dose aspirin?
     
    The following is taken from an article found on the internet: 'Low-dose aspirin (75mg-325mg) is one of the most widely used drugs in the world. Increasingly, it is being bought over the counter or prescribed for its anti-clotting activity in the heart and brain, and in patients with diabetes. Despite the benefits of aspirin use, its rise has been accompanied by a rise in gastrointestinal complications, such as peptic ulcer bleeding, perforation, and sometimes death. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as omeprazole and lansoprazole, can prevent such ulcers but there have been concerns about cost, safety, and risk of interaction with clopidogrel, another anti-clotting drug which is often prescribed with aspirin. In this phase III randomised, controlled trial (the FAMOUS study), Dr Ali S Taha, Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, UK and University of Glasgow, UK, and colleagues studied the effect famotidine, which has a different mechanism of action to proton-pump inhibitors and belongs to a group of drugs called H2-receptor antagonists. Famotidine lowers acidity by binding to the histamine particles in the stomach, and is broken down by different enzymes in the liver. This explains its gentler action compared with proton-pump inhibitors, particularly in patients requiring the other anti-clotting drug, clopidogrel.'
    » left by lee
    from phoenix     39 days 7 hours ago.
    kept forgetting to take my daily dose. My neighbor, who is a nurse told me about a MED-Q Pillbox. I load it for two weeks and it flashes aon the day I'm suppose to take at the time I set. It also beeps to remind me. I bought it on line in Aug and have not missed one day. YEA! It cost less than 40 dollars. As busy as I am, it has made forgetting impossible. Thought you might like to know

    Lee
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