The efficacy of aspirin in the prevention of heart-related problems has always remained dubious among the health researchers and experts. Many people use the drug to guard themselves from heart ailments, but a recent study offers a new exposure about aspirin, suggesting one may not need the drug in order to prevent heart attacks or strokes.
The study, conducted by the researchers at the American College of Cardiology, reveals that about one in 10 people who use aspirin for prevention of cardiovascular ailments may be exposing themselves to more harmful diseases rather than doing good to their health.
Aspirin, also known as acetylsalicylic acid, stops the occurrence of heart attacks and strokes by checking the formation of blood clots, which are made up of platelets that are held together due to the presence of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme.
Scientists said that aspirin prevents COX from sticking the platelets. They further said that even if the intake of the drugs is useful in warding off cardiovascular diseases, it may cause potentially dangerous diseases. It can cause life threatening problems like hemorrhagic stroke in the brain or internal bleeding.
For the current study, the researchers have involved 68,808 patients in the United States, who were getting treatment by cardiologists.
Concluding the findings of the study, the researchers said, “More than one in 10 patients in this national registry were receiving inappropriate aspirin therapy for primary prevention, with remarkable practice-level variations. The study’s results suggest that there are important opportunities to improve evidence-based aspirin use for the primary prevention of CVD.”
The study’s findings were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Share this:
