A study at St George’s, University of London, has found that the benefits of aspirin are more modest than previously believed. People without a history of cardiovascular disease (such as heart attack or stroke) are unlikely to benefit from a regular dose of aspirin, given the risk of internal bleeding.
This is the finding of the largest study into the effects of aspirin in people without cardiovascular conditions. Aspirin reduces the risk of clots forming in blood vessels and thereby protects against heart disease and stroke. It is widely used to prevent a repeat heart attack or stroke among people who have already suffered from one of these conditions, known in the medical field as secondary prevention. Many medical experts have also prescribed regular aspirin as a primary prevention technique – a precaution among people without a previous history of heart attack or stroke, but who may be considered at increased risk of these conditions in the future due to the presence of risk factors for heart attacks or strokes. Dr Sharlin Ahmed, research liaison officer at The Stroke Association said: “People who have been specifically told to take aspirin following a cardio-vascular event such as a stroke or heart attack should continue to do so. Equally, people who think that taking aspirin on a regular basis as a precaution without advice from their doctor should be aware of the potential harm.”
