Pei Chieng, Contriubting writer

An aspirin a day keeps the heart attack away. Or does it?

While scientists have proven aspirin's effectiveness in preventing heart attacks and strokes, recent studies have shown that the drug may not be as beneficial as it was once touted to be, and certain high-risk patients should avoid daily aspirin therapy completely.

Aspirin is an anti-clotting agent. The drug helps to ward off a stroke or a heart attack by preventing the buildup of platelets that could cause a blood clot in the arteries. Doctors mainly recommend the cheap and effective drug as a blood-thinning medication.

It has been proven to help prevent heart attacks and strokes. A study involving 95,000 patients with low to high risk of heart attacks and strokes showed that aspirin reduced non-fatal heart attacks by about 20 percent. Scientists at the University of Buffalo found that aspirin reduces the risk of a second heart attack in up to 80 percent of patients.

However, the benefits of daily aspirin therapy is different between sexes and between age groups, particularly for women.

For example, aspirin can help to prevent the incidence of a first stroke in women of all ages, but not for men. Also, while it reduces the risk of heart disease and prevents a second heart attack for both sexes, it doesn't prevent a first heart attack for women under the age of 65.

If you are at high risk of experiencing a stroke or heart disease, the American Heart Association recommends starting daily aspirin therapy. However, as with any other medication, it is wise to first consult your doctor.

If you suffer from asthma, stomach ulcers, heart failure or a bleeding or clotting disorder, then your doctor will likely discourage you from taking aspirin on a daily basis. Similarly, if you are regularly taking ibuprofen, or anticoagulants like warfarin, daily aspirin therapy is not for you.

The benefits of taking aspirin are greatly reduced when taken together with ibuprofen and when taken together with anticoagulants, your chances of bleeding are significantly higher.

Side Effects

While aspirin helps to prevent blood clots leading to a stroke or a heart attack, there are many side effects and complications that you should be aware of before popping the pill.

Although aspirin prevents clot-related strokes, it does not prevent hemorrhagic strokes or bleeding strokes. Additionally, daily ingestion of aspirin may lead to stomach ulcers and may exacerbate bleeding ulcers, sometimes to a life-threatening extent. Further, too much aspirin has been known to cause tinnitus and hearing loss.

Also, if you are allergic to aspirin, a daily dose may cause a serious allergic reaction.

If you do decide that daily aspirin therapy is right for you, then you need to consider the proper dosage. Again, consult your doctor to get the right dose. In some cases, taking a standard 81 mg baby aspirin is enough, while for others, a regular strength, 325 mg dose is required to enjoy the health benefits.

Patients on daily aspirin therapy should be aware of its risks and side effects. Excessive alcohol consumption while on this treatment is not recommended, as alcohol has a blood-thinning effect and may upset your stomach. Doctors recommend that women should limit themselves to one drink a day, while men are allowed to have two. Further, patients should warn their doctors if they choose to undergo a surgery or dental treatments, as there is a risk of excessive bleeding during the procedure.

Once you start with a daily dose of aspirin, it is unwise to stop suddenly, as this might cause a rebound effect that may increase your risk of blood clots. While going cold turkey is not recommended, it is possible to reduce your dependency on the drug. Again, consult your doctor to devise a gradually decreasing program, which will lead to an eventual stop of daily aspirin therapy.