Aspirin Reduces Heart Attack Risk by One Third

A recent review of studies examining aspirin’s effect upon on heart attack risk has led researchers to conclude that regularly taking the drug can reduce the risk of a first heart attack by roughly one third. Dr Charles H Hennekens of Mount Sinai Medical Center-Miami Heart Institute in Florida and colleagues analysed data obtained from five trials involving 55,000 seemingly healthy individuals. Results showed that regular use of aspirin was associated with a 32% reduction in the risk of first heart attack. Furthermore, aspirin use also reduced the risk of "all important vascular events" by 15%. However, the researchers found no evidence to suggest that aspirin therapy has any impact on non-fatal stroke or vascular death. Aspirin can cause some serious side effects, therefore people wishing to take aspirin for preventative reasons should discuss it with their physician.

SOURCE/REFERENCE: Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:2006-2010.