Constant aspirin consumption increases the risk of internal bleeding

Take care with the daily intake of aspirin

Physicians now warned that if healthy people use aspirin daily to prevent possible heart attacks, it could do more harm than good. Ingestion can cause dangerous internal bleeding. The risk of serious internal bleeding significantly outweighs the benefits of aspirin in patients without a history of heart disease.

The researchers at King's College London found in their recent research that taking aspirin daily to prevent heart disease can cause internal bleeding. The experts published the results of their study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Aspirin is often used for mild pain. For example, many people take the medicine for a headache. Aspirin can protect people with heart disease, but also from a stroke or heart attack. (Image: Photographee.eu/fotolia.com)

Taking aspirin for heart disease?

Aspirin is a painkiller and blood thinner. The drug has been used for decades by people with diagnosed heart disease to prevent heart attacks and strokes. In addition, many healthy middle-aged people take aspirin as a safeguard against potential heart problems. However, research conducted by experts at King's College London shows that aspirin should no longer be used for primary prevention.

Risk of internal bleeding increased by 42 percent due to aspirin

The researchers found that using aspirin in healthy people reduces the risk of heart attack or stroke by 11 percent. However, the risk of internal bleeding increased by 42 percent. This means that 265 people would need to take aspirin for five years to prevent a single heart attack or stroke. However, one in 210 people would develop heavy bleeding. "This study shows that there is insufficient evidence to recommend the routine use of aspirin in the prevention of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular deaths in people without cardiovascular disease," said study author Dr. Sean Zheng from King's College London in a press release.

How does the intake affect people with diabetes?

When patients with diabetes who were at higher risk for heart disease took aspirin, according to the researchers, the risk of heart attack or stroke was reduced by 11 percent, but the risk of bleeding increased by 30 percent.

Protects aspirin from cancer?

In other research, researchers at Harvard University found that middle-aged people who take painkillers on a regular basis are less likely to get cancer of any kind. They found that aspirin is particularly effective in preventing digestive cancers. People who took aspirin on a daily basis for six years showed a 19 percent reduction in colorectal cancer risk. Such aspects should also be taken into account in the benefit-risk assessment.

Which people should take aspirin daily??

Regular use of aspirin requires discussion between the patient and their physician, with all potential cardiovascular benefits to be weighed against the actual risk of major bleeding. Experts are worried that people are taking aspirin without being aware of the side effects that can cause internal bleeding. If you've had a heart attack, your doctor will usually prescribe you a daily aspirin dose to prevent a second infarction. In this case, the benefit (reduced risk of a second life-threatening heart attack) outweighs the risk of side effects (such as bleeding). (As)