Panel: Aspirin Only Effective for High-Risk Adults

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force weighed in this week on the heavily debated topic of whether adults should take a daily dose of aspirin to prevent a heart attack or stroke. According to the independent panel of national medical experts, only certain high-risk people really benefit from taking a daily dose.

The panel says adults in their fifties who have a 10 percent or greater chance of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years may be able to protect themselves by taking 81 milligrams of aspirin each day for 10 years. The benefits of taking aspirin drop for adults in their sixties and are unknown for adults younger than 50 or older than 70. 

The panel found an unexpected benefit of taking aspirin daily to prevent heart attack or stroke. They say it may also protect against colorectal cancer in those same high-risk individuals. 

High risk, however, is the key word when it comes to the effectiveness of low-dose aspirin treatment. Physicians like Steven Nissen, chairman of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, say one concern with the panel’s recommendation is that millions of adults who are not high risk are taking a daily dose of aspirin and doing more harm than good since taking aspirin every day can cause bleeding in the brain and stomach.

Nissen says, "It's just not prudent or safe." Other therapies that do not have those negative side effects may be more effective. The Food & Drug Administration agrees and has issued a warning against taking a daily dose of aspirin except in cases where high risk exists.

The panel’s recommendations are still open to public comment and are not yet final.   

To learn more, read the entire article.