Aspirin and Heart Disease
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QUESTION: There are many stories in my newspaper that seem to say that
aspirin may not be as good for heart attacks as you have written in your
column. Where do you get your information about aspirin and heart disease?
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ANSWER: I get my information about aspirin and heart disease from published
reports of scientific studies in medical journals and not from the popular
press.
It's true that there are conflicting reports recently, but my opinion was
based upon a well controlled, ongoing investigation.
The largest study of aspirin and heart disease is the Physician's Health
Study, which evaluated the effects of taking one regular strength aspirin
every other day on the incidence of heart disease. The subjects in this study
were 22,071 male physicians between the ages of 40 and 84. Half these men
took aspirin and half took a placebo. During the first 57 months of the study
(it will continue for several more years), 18 fatal and 171 nonfatal heart
attacks took place in the placebo group while only 5 fatal and 99 nonfatal
heart attacks occurred in the aspirin group. The aspirin group had a greater
incidence of stroke, but this was greatly offset by the reduced incidence of
heart disease.
The report appeared in the January 28, 1988 issue of the New England
Journal of Medicine, which is carried in many public libraries. You can look
it up yourself if you wish.
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION: There are many stories in my newspaper that seem to say that
aspirin may not be as good for heart attacks as you have written in your
column. Where do you get your information about aspirin and heart disease?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANSWER: I get my information about aspirin and heart disease from published
reports of scientific studies in medical journals and not from the popular
press.
It's true that there are conflicting reports recently, but my opinion was
based upon a well controlled, ongoing investigation.
The largest study of aspirin and heart disease is the Physician's Health
Study, which evaluated the effects of taking one regular strength aspirin
every other day on the incidence of heart disease. The subjects in this study
were 22,071 male physicians between the ages of 40 and 84. Half these men
took aspirin and half took a placebo. During the first 57 months of the study
(it will continue for several more years), 18 fatal and 171 nonfatal heart
attacks took place in the placebo group while only 5 fatal and 99 nonfatal
heart attacks occurred in the aspirin group. The aspirin group had a greater
incidence of stroke, but this was greatly offset by the reduced incidence of
heart disease.
The report appeared in the January 28, 1988 issue of the New England
Journal of Medicine, which is carried in many public libraries. You can look
it up yourself if you wish.
----------------
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.
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