Posted on 06/25/2007 1:12:02 AM PDT by neverdem
Regular aspirin use may significantly reduce the incidence of both cancer and heart disease, according to a large new study, but other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or Nsaids, have no effect.
Researchers studied 22,507 postmenopausal women, following them for 10 years. All reported their aspirin and Nsaid use as part of a detailed physical and behavioral health questionnaire. None of the women had cancer or heart disease at the start of the study.
After controlling for age, exercise, diet and other factors, those who used aspirin had a 16 percent reduced risk of getting cancer, and a 13 percent reduced risk of cancer death, compared with women who never used it. Aspirin use was also associated with a 25 percent reduced risk of dying from coronary artery disease and an 18 percent reduction in all-cause mortality compared with those who never took aspirin. But use of other Nsaids like ibuprofen (Advil and other brands) and naproxen (Aleve and others) had no effect, and there was no significantly reduced risk among aspirin users who were currently smoking. The study was published in the June issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
The authors acknowledged that the study was not a randomized trial, that the questionnaire did not assess duration of aspirin use, and that the participants were all postmenopausal women, most of whom were white.
--snip--
“The study does produce provocative evidence that aspirin can reduce mortality, but for now it would be best that women talk to their health care provider about the risks and benefits of aspirin use.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
link to abstract
Very interesting study.
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Duh! I've had heart disease since 1985; a triple-bypass that year, subsequent angioplasties, my veins have since closed again, I've had a subsequent stroke.
Since 1985 I've been on daily aspirin among a host of other meds. It's what keeps me alive. This is not new, folks. It's been known for years.
The problem with these studies is that will make a lot of people get on ASA without checking with their physician first just because it’s over the counter so it must be “safe”. ASA sensitivity is one of the most common and one of the most riskier too.
10 years ago, I developed hypertension like my parents and grandparents did.
Besides putting me on Vasotec for its renal protective measures as well as lowering my BP, my Family Practice Doctor and friend started me on low dose aspirin in the morning and and evening with the Vasotec. This was to prevent strokes, (the cause of death of both my parents and grandparents).
10 years later, his choices continue to look better and better. He did the same thing as the males in his family on both sides were often stroke prone.
I've got high blood pressure as well. Mine never went above borderline. Due to family history, my GP put me on Diovan and an 81mg aspirin every morning. My blood pressure has been low to mid normal range for 7-8 years now. The use of aspirin to improve cardio health is not new, but this is the first reference I have seen to helping with cancer.
There have been a few retro spective studies re aspirin and a protective effect re colon cancer.
Doctors are concerned that people will over do the aspirin and set themselves up for GI bleeds.
There are several references in the medical literature. One of the more interesting one is the probability of aspiring lowering the re appearance of colon cancer after surgery and treatment.
http://www.hms.harvard.edu/news/pressreleases/df/0505aspirin.html
When I turned 50 my doctor suggested that I start taking an 80mg aspirin a day just for precaution’s sake. My question is , is one 80mg tablet once a day sufficient or would one in the morning and a second in the evening provide better daily protection? It seems to me that one 80mg tablet a day would not provide an adequate level of effect over a 24 hour period. Thoughts?
I wouldn’t be without a bottle of Bufferin in the house.
Ask your doctor. I wouldn't take anyone's advice regarding medications, unless that individual was a licensed physician.
I'm on Ecotrin 350mg/1 daily. But that's prescribed by a cardiologist.
Finally, his cardiologist told me to just stop the coumadin and substitute two baby aspirin (the 80mg).
Keeping cardiac patients on coumadin is a racket, in my opinion...keeps those blood labs in business.
I’ve used Bufferin for decades — only aspirin that doesn’t upset the stomach, etc., at least for me.
I took a 32mg for a while until I started having bleeding issues. The blood vessel bursting in my eye made me a pariah in the house. “ooohhh...dad. Go away”
That was 325
I was on Coumadin for a couple years after my stroke. After getting my blood pressure down where it should be, I was taken off it and never went back.
Those 'blood labs' worked for me.
Aspirn might be the only true “wonder” drug we have...
My doctor assured me that one 81mg aspirin per day is enough. I take mine at night since I figure I’ve eaten a dinner that is probably fattier than it should be. Hubby is the cook and he likes the taste of fat.
OK, Freepers on neverdem’s list...here I go again.
All aspirin products inhibit the main pathway for the degradation of the amino acid Tryptophan from the body. This increases Tryptophan levels and that in turn increases Niacin, which is produced from this amino acid (known to be good for the heart and a cholesterol lowering agent).
This also results in a an increase in serotonin, which is also produced form Tryptophan and it has been show that cancer patients have low levels of Serotoin and Tryptophan.
Alcohol (in moderation) also does the same thing chemically as stated above.
Food for thought? Is it any wonder that L-Tryptophan is on the “orphan” drug list from our beloved FDA?
Please no flaming, I know a lot about this subject.
For you science minded folks do a search and check out the author’s A.A. Badawy and M. Evans on Medline (also use the key word pyrrolase). You will be amazed at how many drugs have this effect on the body.
Any way, I found that since I've been taking an aspirin a couple of times a day, my indigestion has been way down.
(Yes, I tried the cider vinegar w/mother route...)
Please ask your pharmacist. When the cardio's nurse told me he'd said "just quit the coumadin and give him 2 baby aspirin a day", I ran down to the pharmacy for a quick consult....because that advice had floored me.
The pharmo was not at all shocked, and in fact concurred - he just advised to have the doctor reiterate the "grammage" of aspirin.
So far, so good - he doesn't bruise anymore, and I don't have to take a very easily aggravated and feeble old man to the blood lab at the drop of a pin.
Like I said earlier - I highly suspect a medical industry support system....as you'd know, everybody at the labs, from waiting patients to the vampires, knows everybody else.
One baby aspirin a day is enough for most folks. When aspirin, aka acetylsalicylic acid or ASA, is used to "thin" the blood, whether to prevent acute coronary syndrome, ACS, with coronary artery disease, CAD, or to prevent ischemic stroke, it works by the irreversible inhibition of platelet aggregation. Platelets are formed elements of the blood made in bone marrow like red blood cells, but much smaller than red blood cells. Platelets have a half life of about 9 days, IIRC.
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, NSAIDs, e.g. Advil, Aleve, Naprosyn, etc. have a reversible inhibition of platelet aggregation. If you're taking aspirin and another NSAID, take the aspirin at least one hour, preferably two hours, before the NSAID because it interferes with aspirin's effect on platelets.
The two main adverse effects gastrointestinal bleeding and a decrease in kidney function, but the latter is very rare on low dose aspirin. About 20 % of folks are resistant to ASA's effect on platelet aggregation.
Coumadin, also known as warfarin sodium, but folks often omit sodium and just call it warfarin, is a vitamin K-dependent coagulation factor inhibitor used to treat or prevent thromboembolic disorders in deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, atrial fibrillation, i.e. an abnormal heart rhythm, narrowing of the carotid arteries and mechanical heart valves. Coumadin inhibits the body's ability to use vitamin K needed to form proteins to clot blood. The effects of Coumadin can be overridden by increasing the amount of vitamin K in your diet. Foods that are high in vitamin K include: green leafy vegetables, cucumbers with peel, broccoli, brussel sprouts, mayonnaise, canola, salad, and soybean oil; hence the need to monitor blood frequently.
Summary of the Evidence
Aspirin for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events
That study was cited by the The Guide to Clinical Preventive Services 2006 Recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
Thanks for the insight and info.
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