Is aspirin necessary

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HSI - Jenny Thompson <HSIResearch wrote:

 

"HSI - Jenny Thompson" kellykebbySubject: Double-Edged WonderWed, 14 Jul 2004 07:58:18 -0400Double-Edged Wonder Health Sciences Institute e-Alert Wednesday July 14, 2004

Dear Reader,The era of modern pharmaceuticals began in 1900 when the first aspirin tablets were manufactured by a German company called the Friedrich Bayer Corporation. Ninety years later, the Harvard Medical School research known as the Physicians Health Study concluded that men who take aspirin on a regular basis may significantly reduce the risk of a first heart attack. Over the course of those nine decades, aspirin gained a reputation as the wonder drug of the 20th century. And while aspirin has relieved many a headache and does seem to provide heart health benefits for some, a new study reveals that certain heart patients may actually be at greater risk of heart attacks if they use aspirin. --Benefit vs. risk --After a patient experiences a first heart

attack or stroke that's triggered by thrombosis (a blood clot in the heart or a blood vessel), many doctors prescribe an anti-thrombotic regimen of aspirin or warfarin, a prescription blood thinner. But the risks and benefits of these therapies have not been fully explored. As reported in the July 2004 issue of the American Heart Journal, UK researchers at the University of Hull divided 279 subjects from the Warfarin/Aspirin Study in Heart failure (WASH) into three groups: one group received 300 mg of aspirin daily, one received a standard daily dose of warfarin, and a third group received placebo. Each of the subjects had experienced either heart attack or stroke, prompted by thrombosis. After an average follow up period of more than two years, the researchers found that neither the aspirin nor the warfarin therapies provided any greater protection against death, nonfatal stroke, or nonfatal heart attacks than the

placebo. Subjects that received aspirin therapy, however, were nearly twice as likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke as were those who took warfarin or placebo. Gastrointestinal problems were also elevated in the aspirin group. In an interview with Reuters Health, the lead researcher of the study, Dr. John G. F. Cleland, stated that any theoretical benefit of using aspirin after a heart attack, "is outweighed by real evidence of harm." A larger study – modeled on this one – is currently in the planning stage. --Putting on the breaks --Of course, this isn't the first time we've encountered problems with the wonder drug of the 20th century in the context of heart health. In the e-Alert "Under the Gun" (11/10/03), I told you about a French study that showed how severe

angina and fatal heart attacks might be prompted by the sudden halt of regular aspirin intake. In reviewing more than 1,200 cases of coronary episodes, researchers found 51 patients who suffered heart attacks or other severe coronary problems less than one week after they stopped using aspirin. Subjects with a history of heart disease were at particularly high risk. One of the troubling concerns of this outcome is the fact that patients preparing for surgery are regularly advised to discontinue aspirin therapy to avoid excess bleeding during their operations. The French team told Reuters news service that doctors should not advise their coronary patients to stop using aspirin, and even stated that aspirin therapy "cannot be safely stopped in any case." How's that for a "wonder drug"! You begin taking a daily aspirin to protect your heart, and once you start, you're hooked! If you stop, you stand a good

chance of prompting a dangerous coronary episode. Aspirin is generally regarded as so benign that most people would find it hard to imagine that you could actually experience withdrawal symptoms by quitting an aspirin regimen. But suddenly, that simple daily aspirin doesn't seem quite so benign. ---Nourish your heart ---Ironically, many people who are taking a daily aspirin to help their heart may already be getting plenty of heart attack protection from the foods they eat. In the e-Alert "Pain Takes a Holiday" (9/8/03) I told you about a 15-month study of almost 2,000 subjects that showed how those whose diets included the highest fruit intake had more than 70 percent reduced risk of heart attack and other cardiac problems compared with those who ate the least amount of

fruit. On average, for every additional piece of fruit consumed each day, subjects showed a 10 percent reduction in coronary risk. And vegetable intake produced a similar effect. Subjects who consumed vegetables three or more times each week had approximately 70 percent lower heart attack risk than those who ate no vegetables at all. These heart protective benefits are most likely due to flavonoids, the substance that gives fruits and vegetables their color. Flavonoids have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities; two benefits that are believed to help curb chronic diseases, including heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, asthma, and type 2 diabetes. --Handle with care --Everyone is different, and each of us responds differently to any kind of supplement or

medication. So one person may reap benefits from a daily aspirin, while another won't. One person may suffer aspirin's side effects, while another never has a problem. But when problems do occur, the results may be quite serious and even fatal. So if you're currently taking a daily aspirin for heart health, talk to your doctor about these new aspirin studies – especially if you've already experienced a heart attack or stroke. **************************************************************FIVE HIDDEN DANGERS OF YOUR MORNING SHOWERYou wouldn't knowingly bathe in toxins every morning...or setout to ravage your lungs and sinuses, irritate your allergies,aggravate your skin, or...perhaps most horrifying of all...Willingly increase your risk of cancer... would you?Visit below to find out how to purify your water of chlorineand the dangerous chlorine by-products that are putting yourhealth at

risk.http://www.youreletters.com/t/24938/2577399/345/0/(if you can't open here use the HTML links listed below)************************************************************** To start receiving your own copy of the HSI e-Alert, visit:http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealert/freecopy.htmlOr forward this e-mail to a friend so they can sign-up toreceive their own copy of the HSI e-Alert.**************************************************************...and another thingYour average Joe probably doesn't give much thought to the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements. If you happen to be one of those Joes, here's your chance to enjoy a quick Introduction to BP 101, courtesy of HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D. On an HSI Forum thread, a member named Rob posted this question: "Someone mentioned that the difference between your systolic and diastolic measurements were more

critical to predicting a heart attack than the BP reading alone. They went on to say that if the difference is 65 or more, you're in for a heart attack. There are times when this difference for me is above 65 (73 was the worst). Should I get my will in order? Actually, Jenny, I was hoping you'd be able to get one of your experts to comment on this and save me from worrying myself into ulcers." Between systolic and diastolic, your systolic pressure (the first number in the blood pressure reading) is generally considered the more important indicator of heart health – especially for those age 50 or older. As for the importance of the difference between the two pressures, I asked Dr. Spreen to explain and here's how he answered Rob's question: "What you're talking about is called 'pulse pressure', or the differential between the high reading and the low one. Nothing guarantees that you'll have (or not have) a heart

attack. Many heart attacks occur with low serum levels of cholesterol, for example, so don't head into ulcer state yet! Also, the powers-that-be are now telling us that any pressure above 120/80 up to 140/90 is 'pre-hypertension' and they're even suggesting that we get started early on drug therapies, which sounds suspiciously like an attempt to bail out the drug companies to me. "However, physiologically a high pulse pressure may indicate that the blood vessels are not as 'elastic' as they might be, implying that they are not in peak condition (healthy, elastic arteries stretch to handle pressure changes and therefore lower the 'tops' and 'bottoms' of big peaks). Therefore, you do want to respect pulse pressures hitting 75, not by worrying yourself into ulcers but by getting educated on actual ways to treat the situation. "Get a serum homocysteine level and a C-reactive protein, then talk with your doc. Those are

the most sensitive tests, and can give a good baseline of where you are as you take steps to improve. Then, if they indicate a problem, get started on what can fix 'em...folic acid, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, maybe some magnesium, vitamin C (gram doses), and a good multi withOUT iron, for a start. Then, go to www.acam.org and learn about IV chelation. "That way you'll have a proactive avenue of attack against a defeatable enemy, instead of sitting home swallowing antacids and worrying yourself to death!" If Dr. Spreen has helped save Rob from both a heart attack AND an ulcer, I'd say that's a pretty good day's work. To Your Good Health,Jenny ThompsonHealth Sciences Institute **************************************************************Remove the threat of toxic 'squatters' in your bodyIt's uncomfortable to think about 'smart,' drug-resistant parasitic creatures securing themselves inside

our digestive tracts - and perhaps spreading to vital organs, even invading the brain with destructive results. But it's far worse not to deal with the distinct possibility that you - and your loved ones - may now be infected with parasites sapping your health and well-being.Discover the common symptoms of parasitic infection and find out how to protect you and your family. http://www.youreletters.com/t/24938/2577399/341/0/(if you can't open here use the HTML links listed below) ************************************************************ To start receiving your own copy of the HSI e-Alert, visit:http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealert/freecopya.htmlOr forward this e-mail to a friend so they can sign-up toreceive their own copy of the HSI e-Alert.**************************************************************Sources: "The Warfarin/Aspirin Study in Heart Failure (WASH): a Randomized Trial Comparing

Antithrombotic Strategies for Patients with Heart Failure" American Heart Journal, Vol. 148, No. 1, July 2004, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov "Aspirin Not Good for People with Heart Failure" Will Boggs, M.D., Reuters Health, 7/7/04, reutershealth.com "Halting Aspirin Suddenly can Cause Heart Attack" Reuters, 10/29/03, reuters.com"More Research Showing Fruit and Veg Benefits; No Further Explanation" NutraIngredients.com, 9/2/03, nutraingredients.comAOL HTML links**************************************************************FIVE HIDDEN DANGERS OF YOUR MORNING SHOWERRemove the threat of toxic 'squatters' in your body************************************************************ Before you hit reply to send us a question or request, please visit here http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealert/questions.html

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