Checkup on Health Who should consider taking a daily aspirin?
Aspirin, once mostly used on an occasional basis for fever,
aches and pains, is now, for many, taken daily like a vitamin
pill. If you’re taking an aspirin daily, is that a wise
practice? Alternatively, if you’re not, should you be? How
aspirin works Aspirin has many effects because it reduces the
body’s production of prostaglandins, a hormone-like substance
that acts in numerous ways. Reducing prostaglandins diminishes
pain and fever and weakens platelets’ ability to stick together
and form clots. This characteristic is especially important in
lessening the risk of strokes and heart attack, which are caused
by clots lodging in coronary arteries or blood vessels in the
brain. Reducing prostaglandins can have harmful effects as well.
It can make the stomach lining more vulnerable to ulcer
formation and bleeding. And for some people who are prone to
asthma, it can trigger an attack. Who should take aspirin?
Aspirin’s ability to reduce the risk of a s