In 2014, the FDA, Food and Drug Administration, issued a message to consumers stating that the evidence does not support the “general use of aspirin as a primary prevention for heart attacks and
strokes.” This announcement came shortly after the FDA rejected Bayer’s request
to put this information on their labels for aspirin (Neale, 2014). This news
has caused individuals to question the safety and benefits of aspirin. The
American Heart Association, U.S Preventive Service Task Force, and
most cardiologists still recommend aspirin for primary prevention of heart
attacks or strokes (Neale, 2014).
To me, this is strange, as aspirin has been around for
a long time and doctors have used it for decades.
Aspirin has been known for its four important uses: to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, reduce fever, and prevent the formation
of blood clots (Schlager et al., 2006). When taking aspirin, it prevents cells
called platelets from clumping together and blocking arteries which can cause
blood clots and lead to heart attacks (Schlager et al., 2006).
But after saying that, it is important to be aware of
the side effects from taking aspirin. When aspirin is taken in vast amounts and
over a very short time period it could cause gastrointestinal bleeding
(Mayo Clinic, 2015)., renal failure (National Kidney Foundation, 2009), platelet
dysfunction (Kuter, 2014) and Reye’s syndrome (Schlager et al., 2006) in children.
It has been supported that aspirin is recommended for people
who are at risk or who have had a heart attack or stroke. For those you do not
fall into those categories and younger persons, aspirin can be used for its anti-inflammatory, pain reliever, and fever reducer properties.
References:
Kuter, D.J. (2014). Platelet Dysfunction. In Merck Manuals (September 2014 text rev.). Retrieved from http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/hematology-and-oncology/thrombocytopenia-and-platelet-dysfunction/acquired-platelet-dysfunction
Mayo Clinic. (2015). Heart Disease. Retrieved November
11, 2015, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/daily-aspirin-therapy/art-20046797?pg=2
National Kidney Foundation. (2009). Pain Medicines (Analgesics).
Retrieved November 17, 2015, from https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/painMeds_Analgesics
Neale, T. (2014, May). Aspirin: FDA Says ‘No’ Others Say ‘Yes’. MedPage Today. Retrieved from http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Prevention/45634
Perry, M. (Creator), (2013, January 4). Aspirin
[Online image], Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisperry/8346000354/in/photolist-dHvr8Q-oEnpWV-mWPUg-gau7ip-qnEQXH-g1aTPt-dYHcqy-x2rue-6YXu6R-9dxqQE-6Qxjaz-aHrBs8-gQ2rdR-5a6hQC-dYcvqv-kzULKm-fDCH5K-6oqFc-5a6hqG-5R8s7Z-g7EG5G-g7EmMA-9mqWkR-iV96YE-6E4REU-jjhka-gFdGsP-7PEoDk-dYidgS-fYd7yU-ggTcmF-2mboMn-gc8Brz-dKawU2-fDVjHL-7BCmFu-oA8S5o-fz3GxD-g7Eewx-g7E6rV-bhhkya-pptbfK-5a1LF8-fAeLZ6-gMAc1A-iRcfrY-fAu7iw-nz2DDa-7DLioc-fLcaXf
No comments:
Post a Comment