More than half of all American adults are taking an aspirin every day-even though they are going against medical advice. Only people who have already had a heart attack or stroke should be taking the drug.
Around 80 per cent of users are healthy and are taking it as a ‘just-in-case’ remedy. But aspirin is also a blood thinner and can cause serious-even fatal-gastric bleeding, say researchers from Oregon State University.
The researchers surveyed more than 2,500 people aged between 45 and 75, and 52 per cent said they were taken an aspirin every day, while a further 21 per cent said they had taken the drug regularly sometime in the past.
More worrying, some of those taking aspirin were doing so after consulting with doctors, who seem to be disregarding official medical opinion and advice.
(Source: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2015; 48(5): 501)
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