by Kimberly Smith

Created on: August 24, 2009   Last Updated: August 28, 2009

While we all know the best way to prevent diseases and health problems is to eat a well balanced diet, exercise and take good general care of our bodies. But for many, doing these things just isn't enough and for those individuals aspirin may be the answer. For many people aspirin has been a life saving medication. Its benefits for those people are significant in an area of health that is rising at an alarming rate among Americans. While heart disease and strokes ane very serious and life threatening conditions, it is reassuring to many to know that by simply taking a dose of over the counter aspirin daily they can lower their risk and better their chances of avoiding having either one. But it should be understood that an aspirin regimen is not for everyone.

Research sited at CooperHealth.org (1) has shown that taking aspirin reduces heart attack and stroke cases in both men and women overall. But daily doses may not be the correct, healthy answer for everyone.

Aspirin works wonderful as a clot fighting agent. The way it actually helps in preventing such things as heart attacks and strokes is by breaking down blood clots that may form in the arteries. On the other hand, it is also thinning the blood, which causes an increase in the bleeding factor. High doses of aspirin have been linked to gastrointestinal bleeding and strokes, known as hemorrhagic strokes.

An individual's benefits from daily aspirin doses must be weighed against their possible risk and side effects. There are groups that, through studies have proven clearly to benefit from daily aspirin dosage. These include: people with coronary artery disease (CAD) or atherosclerosis, possible in the brain or legs, prior heart attack victims, those who have had bypass surgery or suffer from angina (chest pain). Anyone that through testing indicates a higher than normal risks for potential stroke or heart attack, men over 50, and people who have had a transient ischemic attach (TIA) or ischemic stroke. Other risk factors make people candidates for the use of daily aspirin. Those risks factors include: a history of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking. A patient's family history should also be taken into consideration.

There are concerns about the use of aspirin in combination with other over the counter supplements. Unwanted side effects can result. One such supplement, Saint John's Wart has a known anti-clotting effect that, when taken with a daily aspirin regimen severely increases

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