Aspirin Therapy Dangers

I remember learning about Aspirin in my Nutritional Science class this past spring. Aspirin was synthesized in 1853 and was marketed by Bayer Company beginning in 1879. Aspirin is the most widely used analgesic, antipyretic, and antiimflammatory agent. It also reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack. Aspirin is amazing because it has the ability to decrease elevated body temperature and increase oxygen consumption and metabolic rate. You also cannot get addicted to Aspirin.

Recent data has shown that people with "moderate cardiovascular risk factors, peripheral arterial disease, or diabetes" who are given aspirin daily are prone to increased bleeding instead of a reduction of cardiovascular mortality. Sometimes the cardioprotective effects of aspirin are falsely advertised so aspirin therapy is dangerous, rather than beneficial for people with moderate heart disease.

The solution to this issue is for patients to be educated on methods of lowering heart disease such as "reductions in lipid levels and blood pressure, smoking cessation, and weight control through diet and exercise." Studies to test aspirin therapy are ongoing.

[Source: http://www.pharmacist.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Pharmacy_News&template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=23157]