A study published last week in the British Medical Journal indicates that discontinuing low-dose aspirin is a very bad idea in patients with heart disease. Those who stopped taking aspirin had a much higher risk of heart attacks and death.
Low-dose aspirin therapy makes platelets (the clotting elements in blood) less "sticky," and therefore helps to prevent the acute coronary artery thrombosis that causes acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in people with coronary artery disease (CAD). Low-dose aspirin is thus strongly recommended in people who have known CAD, or who are at increased risk for CAD.
Using a database of nearly 40,000 records from primary care physicians, the authors of this latest study found that, among patients with known CAD, those who stopped taking low-dose aspirin had a markedly and significantly increased incidence of non-fatal heart attacks and cardiovascular death, when compared to similar patients who continued taking aspirin.
So people who have CAD should continue taking their low-dose aspirin unless they cannot tolerate it and their doctor agrees they should stop.
Sources:
García Rodriguez LA, Cea-Soriano L, Martín-Merino E, Johansson S. Discontinuation of low dose aspirin and risk of myocardial infarction: case-control study in UK primary care. BMJ 2011; DOI: 10.1136/bmj.d4094.
Great article. It is very enlightening and I have enjoyed reading it.
It is common that patients stop taking their treatment when they feel better.
Sometimes treatment is stopped without prior discussion with their doctor. I think this is not a good idea.
This is often the case with hypertension and diabetes, which are independently the major risk factors for heart conditions.
I wish patients with heart conditions coupled with the above mentioned chronic conditions can seek advise from their doctor before stopping medication. And most importantly go for regular check-ups.
I think your article will change many patient’s decisions for a better health.
Magd
Good article. But what is the difference of taking Cartia instead of low-dose asprin?
Good advice: but what is the effect of high-dose of aspirin instead of low dose