Aspirin's Risks May Outweigh Health Benefits
Researchers Find Dangerous Side Effects
UPDATED: 9:47 am CDT June 18, 2003
For years, people have heard about taking an aspirin a day to help reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, colon cancer and even Alzheimer's disease. But researchers at the University of Michigan found that popping the pill may be harmful to some patients' health.
Aspirin falls into a drug class called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is one of the most carefully studied drugs available and has been used to reduce pain and inflammation for more than a century. Aspirin's action in preventing blood clots reduces the rate of heart attacks and strokes and saves a large number of lives each year. But Michigan researchers found that the drug could be dangerous for some people."We need to educate people that aspirin has very important health benefits, but at the same time, aspirin is not benign," said Dr. Mark Fendrick, of the University of Michigan.More than 16,000 Americans will die of gastrointestinal-related complications each year, more than HIV and AIDS. "People who take aspirin at all doses will find themselves roughly double the likelihood of having a clinically meaningful bad event such as an ulcer in their stomach or an ulcer that perforates or causes bleed from the GI tract," Fendrick said.Fendrick said there are certain people who should not take aspirin on a daily basis. These are people who have a well-documented risk of aspirin, largely in the brain and GI tract. These can overcome any health benefits that may be achieved, he said.But there are people who should be taking aspirin. They include those at risk of heart disease, coronary artery disease and vascular disease.Fendrick advises patients to talk to their doctor before taking any medication, no matter how mild they think the drug is.
Aspirin falls into a drug class called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. It is one of the most carefully studied drugs available and has been used to reduce pain and inflammation for more than a century. Aspirin's action in preventing blood clots reduces the rate of heart attacks and strokes and saves a large number of lives each year. But Michigan researchers found that the drug could be dangerous for some people."We need to educate people that aspirin has very important health benefits, but at the same time, aspirin is not benign," said Dr. Mark Fendrick, of the University of Michigan.More than 16,000 Americans will die of gastrointestinal-related complications each year, more than HIV and AIDS. "People who take aspirin at all doses will find themselves roughly double the likelihood of having a clinically meaningful bad event such as an ulcer in their stomach or an ulcer that perforates or causes bleed from the GI tract," Fendrick said.Fendrick said there are certain people who should not take aspirin on a daily basis. These are people who have a well-documented risk of aspirin, largely in the brain and GI tract. These can overcome any health benefits that may be achieved, he said.But there are people who should be taking aspirin. They include those at risk of heart disease, coronary artery disease and vascular disease.Fendrick advises patients to talk to their doctor before taking any medication, no matter how mild they think the drug is. Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
