Just read this; there are some people resistant to low-dose aspirin, so they need the regular 325mg/day:
http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/91/100970.htm?printing=true "...The American Heart Association recommends aspirin for patients with heart disease to lower the risks of stroke or heart attacks. But it appears that some people who take aspirin to protect their hearts are resistant to its effects. Studies have suggested that as many as one in three people are aspirin resistant, but new research hints that for many the problem may be in the dosage. Researchers from Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital tested 59 patients [a tiny study!] who had strokes while on aspirin therapy and found aspirin resistance in 73% of those taking a low-dose baby aspirin (81 mg) compared with 32% of those taking a regular-dose aspirin (325 mg) every day... "...Alberts says it is increasingly clear that aspirin resistance is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and strokes, but it is not yet clear if resistant patients benefit from taking higher doses. Taking a daily, regular-dose aspirin is generally considered safe for most people. The side effects of aspirin, such as stomach irritation, stomach bleeding, and bleeding into the brain are believed to increase with higher doses, however. But not everyone who takes a particular dosage of aspirin achieves the same level of heart protection, and it may be that not everyone has the same bleeding risk... "...Another question that must be answered is which test of aspirin resistance provides the most accurate information, says cardiologist and American Heart Association past president Valentin Fuster, MD. Until recently, testing for aspirin resistance was laborious and expensive, but there are now several quick and relatively inexpensive tests available for use by doctors in their offices. The problem, Fuster says, is that the tests tend to give different results... "...He adds that the recent evidence showing less resistance among patients taking a daily, 325 mg aspirin tablet is compelling but not conclusive. "I now recommend 325 mg to my high-risk patients, and I suspect that other clinicians are switching patients from baby aspirin to regular aspirin," he says. "The data don't yet prove that this should be done, but I think it is reasonable." So if a person is at high risk for stroke or heart attack, and does not have a history of bleeding ulcers, it's probably prudent to use full-strength aspirin daily, until better tests for aspirin resistance are confirmed. Debbi An Apple A Day? Maru __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - 50x more storage than other providers! http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
