 |
 Aspirin
has proven effective in preventing heart attacks because it decreases the
tendency of blood to clot. This miraculous benefit from such a common drug
has been so widely studied that you may already be taking aspirin for your
heart. Dosing yourself without medical advice, however, is not a good
idea.
If your risk factors for heart attack are low, you may not need to take
aspirin. Your doctor can evaluate your risk by measuring your serum
cholesterol and blood pressure levels, and by taking into account your
weight, smoking status, family history, and other factors.
Your physician can also help you evaluate your risk for hemorrhagic
stroke, which can be slightly increased with regular aspirin use. This is
especially relevant for people with high blood pressure because
hypertension also increases your risk of stroke. If your blood pressure is
high, it is essential to control it before starting an aspirin regimen.
If you are going to take aspirin for its heart-protective properties, you
need to know how much to take. A very low dose works as well as a
high dose to reduce the risk of heart attack. You can take a baby aspirin
(equal to one-quarter aspirin, or 80 mg) every day. Once every 15 days
some doctors recommend you take a whole aspirin instead of a regular low
dose. This “booster dose” may further reduce the risk of clots, they
believe. But even low-dose aspirin in daily doses can pose a risk of
gastrointestinal bleeding. So if you are thinking about taking aspirin or
already doing so, talk to your physician.
Sources: University of California, Berkeley,
Wellness Letter, March 2001
If you have concerns about your heart or any aspect of your health, an
Alliance Primary Care physician
can help.
The heart hospitals of the Health Alliance -- The
Christ Hospital, The University Hospital and The Jewish Hospital are among the "Top
100 Cardiac Hospitals in the U.S." according to HCIA.
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