Aspirin is a common medicine many people take.
It’s known to be good for preventing heart disease and strokes, particularly in older people. In fact, about half of the seniors in the US take aspirin to keep diseases away.
But aspirin has some side effects, too. It can increase the risk of severe bleeding, especially in the stomach.
A Closer Look at Aspirin’s Effects
A recent study called ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) has found some more about aspirin’s effects. This study was done by scientists from Monash University, Melbourne.
They took a group of 19,114 people who were 70 years old or more. Half of them were given 100 mg of aspirin each day, and the other half were given a placebo, which is a pill that does nothing.
The researchers checked the people’s blood for iron levels and the protein called hemoglobin every year. Hemoglobin carries oxygen in your blood.
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron. If these are too low, it can mean you have anemia, which makes you feel tired and weak.
Aspirin and Anemia
The researchers found that the people who took aspirin had a 20 percent higher chance of getting anemia.
They also found that these people had a bigger decrease in their hemoglobin and iron levels. This was true even though the aspirin group didn’t have more severe bleeding events.
This means that the aspirin may be causing hidden blood loss. This is a concern because blood loss can lower iron levels, leading to anemia.
What This Means for Older Adults
These findings show that older adults who take aspirin should have their blood checked regularly. This is to make sure they are not losing too much blood or becoming anemic.
It’s important for doctors to be aware of this risk when they recommend aspirin to their patients.
Summing Up
While aspirin can help prevent heart disease and strokes, it can also cause problems like hidden blood loss and anemia in older adults.
Regular blood tests can help catch these problems early. This is something we need to think about when we decide to take aspirin.
This study reminds us that even common medicines like aspirin can have unexpected side effects. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of any medicine you take.
If you care about health, please read studies about drug combos that may block cancer spread, and this drug for inflammation could help stop cancer metastasis.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about a daily vitamin that is critical to cancer prevention, and results showing this nutrient in fish can be a poison for cancer.
The study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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