Daily Aspirin

[sparklyjewlz]

Any 50 plus ladies decided to take a daily dose of aspirin? What decided you?

Chat to your GP first. Daily asprin can cause life threatening bleeding in the stomach. You have to weigh up the benefits and risks for each person

I started about a month or so ago and I am 40. I haven't checked with my GP as the latest reports swung it for me. My darling Mother died of bowel cancer this year; I would rather die of anything else, so will take the risks. Note; it's only meant to be a small dose (75mg?) so not necessarily a whole tablet daily.

Thanks, PW, will speak to my dr.
Is 75 mg the recommended dose, Earthdog?

Research suggests that ?a small daily dose of aspirin can significantly cut the risk of getting or dying from bowel cancer?, reported The Guardian.

This review gathered evidence from four large trials that compared taking daily aspirin for several years to placebo. As reported, aspirin reduced the risk of getting or dying from colorectal cancer, compared to placebo. The study also indicated that taking a low dose (75 to 300mg daily) was as beneficial as a high dose.

However, for individuals, the absolute reduction in cancer risk was quite small (the absolute risk of colorectal cancer was reduced from approximately 4% to approximately 2.5%). Regularly taking aspirin is known to increase the risk of internal bleeding, particularly in the elderly. As the review did not look at whether the people in these trials developed bleeding, we can't judge whether the potential benefits outweigh the potential harms.

Aspirin is known to benefit people who are at risk of cardiovascular disease as it thins the blood. However, it is still unclear if healthy people should take it as a preventative medicine.

PS you can get enteric coated ones to protect the stomach

Thanks for all the info, Earthdog. I'm 51; BP a little on the high side, otherwise healthy. Can't make up my mind, so will have to talk to doc.

That sounds sensible. I too am healthy, touch wood, but bowel cancer is such a dreadful illness I would do anything to cut the risk. To me aspirin is very 'natural' (it's just willow-though I realise that doesn't necessarily mean 'safe'!) and the risks seem to be understood (stomach bleeding, ulcers, tinnitus according to Wikipedia). Hope your GP helps. I would be interested to hear what he/she says.