81 mg aspirin no longer recommended?

[Protimenow]

In the current (July? August?) issue of Life Extension magazine, there's an article that states that one 81 mg aspirin a day may be unnecessary. For those of us on warfarin, the argument against it may be even stronger.

The argument is that 81 mg aspirin was found to be useful to prevent heart attacks in a different population of people than we are now. This was for people who were around in the '50s to the '70s - smoking, eating a lot of meats and other things that have been implicated in heart attacks -- in short, living a life style that wasn't heart healthy.

Today's habits have changed. People are eating better. Their cholesterol is lower. Fewer are smoking. People are getting the Omegas and other things that are good for coronary health.

With people 'healthier' now than they were 40 years ago, the need for 81 mg aspirin - which makes platelets less 'sticky' is no longer there.

I'm not completely convinced. I had a TIA years ago because I trusted an inaccurate (now discontinued) meter, so I may continue taking my one little aspirin even if I probably don't need it.

You can probably download the article at the Life Extension site. I'm not sure how much rigor was put into researching the article, so I don't have an opinion either way, but the position taken in this article is interesting.

Any comments?

 

[rich01]

I believe they were only talking about people at low risk, not us.

 

[Protimenow]

No, actually they WERE talking about us. One of their clear recommendations was that people taking anticoagulants should NOT take the 81 mg aspirin.

 

[Warrick]

Yea but is that people on anticoagulants for things like Afib or for mech valves?

 

[Paul1972]

I was told by my surgeon to stop taking aspirin and continue with just warfarin 1yr 1/2 after my surgery. Ten days later while on holiday I had a 15 min episode of double vision and loss of coordination. I didn’t seek medical advice while I was on holiday, but when I got back I told my surgeon about my event and he told me to start taking aspirin again.

 

[Keithl]

I have been taking 81mg aspirin for over 20 years so when surgeon said to take one every day I was like no problem, I was going to do it anyway.

 

[pellicle]

my view is that (as I've previously said) the literature is divided on the subject. So therefore its either marginal or no effect.

I've started taking it again, but I can't give you a solid case for why

 

[Protimenow]

This article was in the latest Life Extension Magazine - not reviewed by professionals (although it often quotes many research articles) and may boil down to the Editor's personal opinion (shored up by some research).

I'm continuing to take my 81 mg aspirin, too.

 

[almost_hectic]

Unless someone comes forward to say it’s actually harmful or bad, then why not just keep taking it? Unnecessary or not

 

[rich01]

It seems there should be a blood test(s) (there are) to indicate whether you should or you shouldn't. It has to do with clotting and viscosity, and there are tests for both.

 

[rich01]

Unless someone comes forward to say it’s actually harmful or bad, then why not just keep taking it? Unnecessary or not

Potential bleeding problems.

 

[almost_hectic]

I’d think you’d have to take a lot of those aspirins at 81 mg to have a problem.

 

[carolinemc]

No, actually they WERE talking about us. One of their clear recommendations was that people taking anticoagulants should NOT take the 81 mg aspirin.

There are those who have had issues as a reason for being on 81mg regiment. Mine was an eye stroke a year ago last May. I am going to have a new cardio and will talk about the 81mg aspirin. Before the eye stroke, I was on it and then taken off, like the article recommends. But I think this round was due to being off the warfarin for a time and being type 2 diabetic, which both played a role in my health issue. Still have blurred vision, has cleared up some, but prognosis is not great. But I am still alive and that is what counts. They are still studying this aspirin regiment for everyone. Someday we will learn more and have to take in less. Have a great day.

 

[carolinemc]

I’d think you’d have to take a lot of those aspirins at 81 mg to have a problem.

They are usually the coated aspirin or a children's aspirin.

 

[carolinemc]

Potential bleeding problems.

Not with a coated aspirin or a children's aspirin.

 

[carolinemc]

I was told by my surgeon to stop taking aspirin and continue with just warfarin 1yr 1/2 after my surgery. Ten days later while on holiday I had a 15 min episode of double vision and loss of coordination. I didn’t seek medical advice while I was on holiday, but when I got back I told my surgeon about my event and he told me to start taking aspirin again.

Just go get medical help the next time, it may happen again. Always use caution and seek medical attention for anything unusual, your life may depend on it.

 

[carolinemc]

Yea but is that people on anticoagulants for things like Afib or for mech valves?

It depends on your heart situation, not just those with artificial valves. Some do and some don't.

 

[btlRickas01]

I buy a couple supplements from Life Extension so by default I get their "magazine", but I never take advice from a company that has a vested interest in their own products.

You're here for a reason, talk to your medical professional to get advice. If you don't care for the advice get a second opinion. My cardiologist suggests that I continue the 81mg aspirin that I've been taking for 20 yrs. I'm not on any other anti-coag and I'm almost 5 yrs post BAV replacement.

 

[rich01]

Not with a coated aspirin or a children's aspirin.

Are you sure? I can't find anything to confirm it.

 

[AZ Don]

In this review of the research: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/should-we-all-take-aspirin-to-prevent-heart-disease/
the conclusion is that the heart benefits are not really enough to outweigh the risk of bleeding in the general population. But as shown in this additional review: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/should-we-all-take-aspirin-to-prevent-cancer/ , aspirin also has protection against cancer. That's a primary reason I started taking it years ago. Now my cardiologist recommends it as well. (I am not on warfarin).

The 2nd article also mentions:
"Recent meta-analyses estimate that just a single “year of low-dose aspirin therapy will induce major gastrointestinal bleeding…in one…out of 833 [people].” " So even low-dose (children's) aspirin is not without risks.