Aspirin, often taken to ward off heart disease and strokes, can sometimes cause serious stomach bleeding, especially in older folks.
ASPREE Study: Should Elderly Stop Aspirin?
Researchers from the University of Tasmania, led by Mark R. Nelson, investigated what happens when the elderly stop taking aspirin.
They looked at individuals aged 70 and above who were consuming aspirin at least twice a week.
Participants were divided into two groups: one stopped taking aspirin, and the other continued. The study’s primary aim was to see how stopping or continuing aspirin affected death rates, dementia onset, and long-term physical disabilities.
Study Findings: Mixed Signals
Of the 19,114 participants, 11 percent were on aspirin pre-study, with 1,714 of them consuming it twice or more weekly.
After observing for about five years, the data was a bit puzzling.
Those who halted their aspirin consumption faced a marginally higher risk of death, dementia, and physical disability. This increase was more pronounced among non-White participants.
For those on aspirin for five years or more, discontinuing it upped their heart disease risk. Yet, it didn’t seem to influence other health concerns.
To Stop or Continue Aspirin: A Grey Area
The study doesn’t point directly to whether elderly individuals should cease their aspirin regimen.
Researchers hinted that if someone is on multiple medications, they might consider stopping aspirin. Yet, such a decision must be approached with caution.
Conclusion: Personalized Decision on Aspirin
While aspirin does offer benefits like heart disease prevention, it’s not without its downsides, like stomach issues.
Deciding whether to continue or stop taking aspirin in later years is intricate and hinges on individual circumstances. Hence, consulting with a medical professional is essential.
For those keen on learning more about aspirin’s role, delve into studies discussing aspirin’s potential in preventing colon cancer. If considering aspirin for heart-related purposes, always consult a doctor.
Further readings on heart health and associated research can also shed light on diet adjustments for reversing heart failure and the implications of cannabis use on heart health.
The complete findings are available in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
If you care about heart health, please see recent studies about supplements that could help prevent heart disease, stroke, and results showing that a year of committed exercise in middle age reversed worrisome heart failure.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about how to remove plaques that cause heart attacks, and results showing a new way to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
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