by Susan Elizabeth Wiggins

Created on: August 27, 2009   Last Updated: August 28, 2009

Unless you have been isolated from the rest of the world, you have most likely heard recommendations to "take aspirin daily." Television ads present an assortment of individuals who are different ages, races, and sexes, telling us how a simple aspirin saved their lives because it was taken at the onset of a heart attack. In today's world of advanced pharmaceuticals and overpriced drugs, the thoughts of just taking an aspirin to save one's life does, indeed, seem oversimplified. With the buzz about its capabilities, we may be led to give aspirin "kudos" for being the oldest "new miracle drug."

So is it that simple? Not necessarily so. Before you run to your medicine cabinet to begin your daily regimen, there are some things to contemplate before you start.

How does aspirin work? A short, simplified explanation is that aspirin blocks the formation of blood clots. Problems occur if a blood clot forms inside an artery. When a blood clot forms in a coronary artery, it results in a heart attack and a blood clot formed in an artery supplying blood to the brain causes a stroke. Not all blood clots are bad, however. Blood clots are crucial because they stop bleeding when we have an injury such as a cut or laceration.

More information on this subject-

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/daily-aspirin-thera py/HB00073

Who benefits from aspirin therapy? It depends on your risk of heart disease and stroke. Including:

* Smoking tobacco

* High blood pressure

* Total cholesterol level of 240 mg/dL or higher

* Low-density lipoprotein ("bad") cholesterol level of 130 mg/dL or higher

* Lack of exercise

* Diabetes

* Stress

* More than two alcoholic drinks daily for men, one drink daily for women

* Family history of stroke or heart attack

Recommendations for the secondary prevention of future attacks (in people who already have had a heart attack or stroke) include those with-

* exertional and unstable angina

* TIAs (transient ischemic attack, mini-stroke)

* peripheral vascular disease (poor artery blood flow to the legs)

* vascular procedures such as PTCA and CABG

In 2009, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) came up with slightly modified recommendations for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease using aspirin. Published data includes:

* encouraging the use of aspirin in men between 45-79 years of age and women between 55-79.

* Individuals older than 80, treatment with aspirin were associated with more bleeding episodes which outweigh the protective benefits.

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