Fw: Low-Dose Aspirin Not Answer for Heart Health

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Low-Dose Aspirin Not Answer for Heart Health

http://www.naturalnews.com/025650.html

 

 If you listen to the reigning experts from the pharmaceutical world, aspirin

appears to be the cure-all for everything. Now, a new Yale University study

suggests that low-dose aspirin may prevent liver damage caused by side effects

of drugs, alcohol, and obesity. Specifically, aspirin reduced mortality caused

by Tylenol overdose in mice. Given together with Tylenol, it offered significant

protection, increasing survival from 22 to 43%. Other drugs that block

inflammation were also shown to protect the liver (Imaeda et al., 2009). As

usual, no mention was made of anti-inflammatory vitamins and mineralsin this

study.

 

 

A number of pharmaceutical industry-sponsored studies support the use of

aspirinfor prevention. Low-dose aspirin is positioned as a widely available,

inexpensive, and relatively safe drug regimen. Its anti-clotting effect is used

widely to prevent heart attacks, strokes and blood clot formation. Given

immediately after a heart attack, aspirin is said to reduce heart damage and the

risk of another heart attack. Now, low dose aspirin may be promoted to inhibit

liver inflammationfrom drug use. Consider, however, that higher doses may

increase liver toxicity.

 

 

Thus, from one single mouse study, the authors conclude that aspirin should be

taken daily to help prevent or treat liver damage from a host of non-infectious

causes. They even suggest that drugs previously discarded due to liver

toxicitymight be resurrected if combined with aspirin. Soon enough, a new OTC

drug combining Tylenoland low-dose aspirin is likely to show up in drugstores.

 

 

However, aspirin is not the cure-all that the industry makes it out to be.

Aspirin is not recommended for those with intolerance or resistance to

nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs, or by those with bleeding problems,

asthma, kidney disease, peptic ulcers, diabetes, gout or gastritis. There is an

increased risk of stomach bleeding when aspirin is taken with alcohol or

warfarin. Up to 28% of patients who take low-dose aspirin to ward off heart

attacks develop peptic ulcers, though often without symptoms (Yeomans et al.,

2005). Factors that increase ulcer risk include old age or infection with H.

pylori. Aspirin should also not be given to young people for colds or flu, as

this has been linked with Reye`s syndrome. As with any drug, the benefits of

aspirin should be carefully assessed before taking it for long periods.

 

 

Generally speaking, no drug is a solution for chronic degenerative disease.

Aspirin is no exception, as it is in fact a metabolic poison. Indeed, aspirin`s

side effectsmay far outweigh any benefits. Aspirin can increase the risk of

pancreatic cancer(Schernhammer 2004), damage kidneys, and promote gastric

bleeding. The WASH (Warfarin/Aspirin Study in Heart failure) study provided no

evidence that aspirin is effective or safe in patients with heart failure.

Indeed, there were trends toward a worse outcome among those taking aspirin,

including heart failure (Cleland et al., 2004). It is likely that aspirin is not

as safe as suggested. It may also not be as cheap as advertised, when

calculating the costs of treatment for adverse effects. Perhaps the greatest

detriment of aspirin is that it diverts attention away from treatments that are

truly beneficial.

 

 

Nevertheless, it is not wise to go cold turkey with any medication. People who

stop taking aspirin once they`ve been doing it for a while risk serious heart

problems. More than 10% of people taking daily aspirin for heart reasons were

hospitalized within one week of stopping the therapy. It`s a Catch-22 situation,

since aspirin can increase the risk of heart damage, but stopping long-term

therapy can do the same. Solutions? Start by asking your doctor to safely wean

you off blood-thinners without shocking your system into a heart attack. In the

future, take these drugs only when needed. There are many natural alternatives

to aspirin that are heart healthy without the damaging side effects.

 

 

So, what are the best alternatives to aspirin? Simple lifestyle changes such as

reducing refined carbohydrate and trans fat intake, eating more alkaline foods

(low-carb veggies and fruits) and exercising can have a tremendously positive

effect on your cardiovascular system. There are also natural supplements with

blood-thinning properties, such as Fish Oil, Vitamin E, Nattokinase, and

Bromelain. Among the spices, Basil is known for preventing blood clotting.

Scientists caution not to take these potential blood thinners with aspirin, as

the combination may thin the blood excessively. However, fish oilmay safely

enhance the anti-platelet effect of baby aspirin (Larson 2008). A basic

supplement regimen for cardiovascular healthincludes a high quality

multivitamin, natural mixed vitamin E and pharmaceutical grade fish oil. There

are also many minerals and antioxidants from foodand supplements that boost

circulatory health. Remember to buy top shelf

supplements, not the cheap drugstore junk produced by the pharmaceutical

industry. The extra cost is well worth the investment. Remember also to stop

taking all blood thinners at least a week before surgery to avoid internal

bleeding.

 

 

Furthermore, be careful with excessive calciumsupplementation. Too much calcium,

without other nutrients to prevent its crystallization in the body, leads to

hardening of the arteries and abnormal blood clotting. Reducing calcium intake

to 800 mg daily combined with magnesium, vitamin K2, vitamin D3, boron and fish

oil is by far a better bone building strategy that can also improve heart

health. Unfortunately, most magnesium supplements come in the oxide form, which

is not absorbed by the body. Take 100-200 mg magnesium daily as citrate or

taurate (or another absorbable form) to soften calcium. Vitamin K2 (but not

vitamin K1) has been shown to decalcify blood vessels (Beulens et al., 2008).

Vitamin D3 should be on everyone`s list to improve calcium metabolism and reduce

inflammation.

 

 

There are also special foods and supplements that prevent excessive blood

clotting. Nattokinase is an enzyme made from fermented soybeans that can prevent

or dissolve clots. It is comparable to aspirin in enhancing blood flow, without

the side effects. Nattokinase provides longer lasting benefits than aspirin

without the potential for abnormal bleeding. By increasing circulation,

Nattokinase enhances tissue oxygenation and increases nutrient and supplement

utilization. This, in turn, increases energy, supports vision, promotes bone and

joint health, alleviates minor joint and muscle pains, and supports memory (Peng

et al., 2005). Nattokinase in combination with appropriate lifestyle and dietary

modifications can provide excellent protection from heart attacks.

 

 

Flavonol-rich cocoadrinks and dark chocolate also compare favorably with

low-dose aspirin for healthy blood clotting (Mehrinfar 2008). Cocoa may be the

preferred way to thin blood, since it tastes so good, and bolsters

antioxidantdefenses. In contrast, aspirin may reduce antioxidant activity by

blocking Vitamin C entry into cells. Tomato extracts have also been shown to

help thin blood, and may contribute to cardiovascular health. By reducing

plateletactivation, tomato contributes to a reduction in clotting events that

lead to heart attack and stroke, as shown in clinical trials (O`Kennedy 2006).

Garlic`s blood-thinning effect is part of an ancient tradition. It stems from

garlic`s ability to lower blood triglyceride levels. Indeed, a wide variety of

antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds derived from fruits and vegetables

work in synergy to promote cardiovascular health. Many of these phytochemicals

are available as supplements, either separately

or in synergistic blends.

 

 

If you insist on taking aspirin, consider thatzincand selenium may prevent

aspirin`s impairment of antioxidant, liver and kidney function (Kesik et al.,

2008). These antioxidant minerals can be found in ideal form and sufficient

quantity in high quality multivitamins.

 

 

In conclusion, virtually all pharmaceutical approaches to health should be

considered with caution. Drugs are not the best answer to improve health, and

should not be anyone`s first choice. Furthermore, drug combinations are likely

to cause more problems than they fix. Unfortunately, the pharmaceutical industry

seems more concerned with profit than with health and welfare. Even well meaning

doctors typically have no training in nutrition, and are not the best source of

information in many areas of health. With so many beneficial nutrients available

to improve blood flow and reduce inflammation, wholesome food and supplements

are the cornerstone to health. Those who would recommend drugs for these

purposes, especially to counteract the toxic effects of other drugs, have

another agenda altogether.

 

References

Beulens JWJ, Bots ML, Atsma F, et al. High dietary menaquinone intake is

associated with reduced coronary calcification. Atherosclerosis. 2008 Jul 19.

[Epub ahead of print]

 

 

Cleland JG, Findlay I, Jafri S, et al. The warfarin/aspirin study in heart

failure (WASH): a randomized trial comparing antithrombotic strategies for

patients with heart failure. Am Heart J 2004;148:157-64.

 

 

Imaeda AB, Watanabe1 A, Sohail1 MA, et al. Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity

in mice is dependent on Tlr9 and the Nalp3 inflammasome. J Clin Invest Jan 26,

2009.

 

 

Kesik V, Lenk MK, Kurekci AE, et al. Do zinc and selenium prevent the

antioxidant, hepatic and renal system impairment caused by aspirin in rats? Biol

Trace Elem Res 2008;123:168-78.

 

 

Larson MK, Ashmore JH, Harris KA, et al. Effects of omega-3 acid ethyl esters

and aspirin, alone and in combination, on platelet function in healthy subjects.

Thromb Haemost 2008;100:634-41.

 

 

Mehrinfar R, Frishman WH. Flavanol-rich cocoa: a cardioprotective nutraceutical.

Cardiol Rev 2008;16:109-15.

 

 

O`Kennedy N, Crosbie L, Whelan S, et al. Effects of tomato extract on platelet

function: a double-blinded crossover study in healthy humans. Am J Clin Nutr

2006;84:561-9.

 

 

Peng Y, Yang X, Zhang Y, et al. Microbial fibrinolytic enzymes: an overview of

source, production, properties, and thrombolytic activity in vivo. Appl

Microbiol Biotechnol 2005;69:126-32.

 

 

Schernhammer ES, Kang JH, Chan AT, et al. A prospective study of aspirin use and

the risk of pancreatic cancer in women. J Natl Cancer Inst 2004;96:22-8.

 

 

Yeomans ND, Lanas AI, Talley NJ, et al. Prevalence and incidence of

gastroduodenal ulcers during treatment with vascular protective doses of

aspirin. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2005;22:795-801.